The Nightmare Affair (32 page)

Marrow’s dazing spell struck me in the back, and I fell forward, hitting the ground. I lay there for a moment, my body seized with pain. I’d never been hit so hard before, never felt magic so powerful. Was this how all spells would be now that Marrow controlled The Will?

When the pain eased, I rolled over and saw Bethany standing over me, holding out her uninjured hand. “There’s no reason to be so upset. You’re better off without her.”

How many times had I told myself that very thing, when I was younger, resenting her absence in my life? Hundreds. But it wasn’t true. It never had been. I shook my head as I sat up and curled into a ball, arms wrapped around my knees. Guilt at my betrayal scorched like acid poured over my heart.

Marrow knelt in front of me. Then he said in a kind, soothing voice, “I understand your anger, Dusty. I understand your hurt and loss. You’ve a right to them, no doubt. But you must accept that hurt and loss are a consequence of war. And this
is
war, Dusty. You just didn’t know it. But now it’s time to choose your side.”

I fought back the urge to cry. I couldn’t give in to my emotions now. I’d failed my mom, but there was still Eli and Selene to think about. It was my fault they were here. I had to find a way to get them out, and I couldn’t do that while overcome by grief.

Marrow continued. “The Magi must be stopped. Magickind needs to be free, and those that choose to follow me
will
be freed.” He adjusted his grip on the sword as if preparing to use it. “We shouldn’t have to disguise ourselves with glamour. Shouldn’t be forced to blend in with the ordinary world, adopting their crude ways of life, like using electricity and natural gas to run our homes. Magic can do those things for us. Ordinary technologies are a nuisance, all those cell phones and televisions. And some of them are even
dangerous
. Take the Internet, for example. Did you know Paul has created a website that allows me to recruit for my very own army? Hundreds of oppressed magickind, organized and ready to fight with a mere click of a button.”

I shivered at the implications. With social networking sites he could coordinate wide-scale attacks with ease.
I’ve got to do something
. Not just for Eli and Selene, but for everybody.

With adrenaline pumping through my system, a focus came over my mind. I needed to find a way out of this. “How did the Magi steal your spell in the first place?”

I didn’t expect Marrow to answer, but he said at once, “I fell in love with the wrong woman, and she betrayed me.” He stood and approached the tomb, forgetting about me for a moment. He lifted my mother’s body out of the tomb with his magic and tossed her over the side, out of sight. I bit my tongue, holding back a cry.

Marrow peered into the tomb. “But she wasn’t just any woman, my Nimue. She was my dream-seer, and I hers.”

Comprehension struck me. “You and she were—”

“The same as you and Eli, yes. Dream-seers have a special bond, you know. One that far exceeds anything physical.” He reached into the tomb and stroked Nimue’s cheek.

“Uh-huh. Right. So her betrayal makes
perfect
sense then.”

“She had her reasons. And she made her choice.” Marrow withdrew his hand and then raised Excalibur over his head, holding it like a stake with the blade pointed at Nimue. He drove it downward into her body with one fierce stroke.

I screamed, but the sound was drowned out by another scream, one so loud it shook the walls of the chamber, raining down bits of rock on top of us. Magic fueled that scream, giving it weight and power. Marrow hadn’t only killed Nimue; he’d broken whatever spell had enabled her to live so long, trapped in a dream of her own making.

The silence afterward rang almost as loudly as the scream. Blood rushed in my ears as deafening as a storm-swept river. I didn’t want to die, too.

Marrow walked back to me, holding the sword casually as if he hadn’t just used it to kill. Blood dripped from the tip, leaving red splotches on the ground.

“Don’t be upset, Dusty,” he said. “Nimue was a prisoner, but I’ve given her rest at last. It’s more than she deserved after her betrayal, I assure you.”

Even though I was more afraid than I’d ever been in my life, I still couldn’t keep my mouth from running away with me. “Rest. Revenge. Same difference, right?”

Marrow smiled at me with something like affection. I recoiled from the look, disgust churning in my belly. “You remind me of her in many ways. Same feisty spirit, same talent as a dream-seer. Perhaps that’s why I’ve always been so fond of you. I hope you will consider joining me. You and Eli. There’s nothing more valuable than a dream-seer pair. I can give you everything and anything you want. Just ask Paul. His greatest desire was to do magic. And now he can.”

I shook my head, still hearing the sound of Nimue’s death cry echoing in my mind. His pitch about freeing magickind from oppression would’ve been more effective if he wasn’t going around murdering innocent people. “No. Not
ever
.”

Marrow sighed. “I can’t say I didn’t expect this reaction. You inherited Nimue’s bull-headedness as well.” He motioned at Paul. “Make her change her mind.”

Paul shook his head, his face going pale. “I … I can’t. Not on her.”

Marrow pointed the bloodstained sword at him. “You
will
do it or I will take back what I have given you.”

“Wait,” I said, trying to delay again. “First tell me how you did it. I know what happened with Rosemary, but what about Mr. Ankil? How did you get him down in that tunnel with all the senate watching out for him?”

Marrow looked at me, a smug smile on his lips. “More easily than you could imagine. Paul, you see, was never as powerless as his uncle believed. He is half-siren, able to manipulate and seduce despite The Will. A useful talent under the right circumstances. The more desperate or lonely the person targeted, the more effective the power. Arturo Ankil was an easy mark, unable to resist when Paul lured him out of the dance right under the nose of his guard.”

I swallowed, disgusted at the image that rose in my mind. I didn’t want to look at Paul, but I couldn’t stop myself. His eyes were fixed on the floor, his face now red. A muscle ticked in his jaw.

“But don’t be too quick to judge poor Arturo,” said Marrow. “Not until we see how
you
fare against the same power.” He waved Paul forward.

I tried to stand and run away, but Marrow held me in place with his magic. I steeled myself as Paul approached and knelt before me, setting Marrow’s staff on the ground beside us. When he raised his hands to my face I jerked away.

“Don’t fight, Dusty,” Paul whispered. “Please don’t fight. He’ll
kill
you.”

“What do you care?” Hatred and pity warred inside me. “You lied to me. You
forced
me to like you. It was just magic.
Fake
.”

“No, it wasn’t, I swear. Everything was real between us.”

I shook my head, refusing to believe him.

“Enough,” Marrow said. “Get on with it. Now.”

I cut my eyes to Marrow, glaring at him as hatred scorched my insides. “Why don’t you just use that stupid sword and The Will spell to make me do what you want? Why bother with siren magic?”

“Explain it to her,” Marrow said to Paul.

Paul exhaled. “For the oath’s magic to work you must choose to say it, not be forced. I’m not going to make you say the oath. I’m supposed to make you
want
to say it.”

Paul cupped my face with his hands, and I heard him whisper, “Why didn’t you listen and go the other way like I wanted?” Before I could respond his eyes locked on mine and something strange happened. The disgust vanished, an attraction far more powerful than any I’d ever felt before rising in its place. I had a wild urge to kiss him and run my fingers through his hair. I knew it wasn’t real, that it wasn’t
me,
but I couldn’t fight off the feeling. It was like being swept under by a wave so strong I couldn’t tell which way was up or down.

He began to speak in a low, velvety voice. “Join us, Dusty. Swear allegiance to Marrow and you and I can be together forever. It’s what I want. It’s what you want, too, isn’t it?”

I felt myself nodding.

“Yes, that’s right,” Paul murmured. “Now all you have to do is speak the oath. It’s a simple spell, really. I’ll say it first, and you repeat after me. All right?”

“All right.”

“’On’t, ’usty.”

The strange words barely registered in my ears, which seemed stuffed with cotton.

“’On’t oo it.”

Were these the words I was supposed to be repeating? I closed my eyes, and my mind cleared a bit.

“Look at me, Dusty,” Paul said, squeezing my face.

“’
On’t!
” that other voice said again, and I realized it was Eli, trying to speak through the gag.

“Be quiet,” Marrow said, and Eli cried out in pain.

“No,” I said, but my voice was weak.

“Open your eyes and look at me,” said Paul.

I shook my head, but it was no good. My eyes opened of their own accord as my will gave way to his. I didn’t mind. My head ached, and I tasted the blood in my mouth from where it had run from my nose. It was easier not to fight.

“Okay,” I said. “I’ll do it.”

Paul opened his mouth to continue, but his eyes wavered on my face. The shift in his vision was just enough for his hold on me to ease.

“Wait,” I said, pushing against his magic. “Eli will, too.”

“Hold on, Paul,” said Marrow, taking a step toward us.

Paul let go of me, and the spell broke completely.

“What did you say, Dusty?” Marrow said.

I struggled to my feet, an idea forming in my mind. “I’ll go through with it, swear whatever oath you want, but first let me convince Eli to do it with me. I need him.”

Eli was shaking his head, his eyes wide with horror at my words.

Marrow frowned. “What makes you think you can?”

“You said yourself that dream-seers share a special bond. It’s the same with me and Eli. I can do it.”

“We’ll see,” said Marrow. He motioned at Paul. “Bring Eli here.”

Paul approached Eli and muttered the counter-spell to release him from the binding curse. The silver ropes fell away, and Eli let out a relieved groan. Paul hauled Eli to his feet and steered him toward me.

“What are you doing, Dusty?” Eli said as Paul forced him to a stop in front of me.

I shook my head at him, just slightly, trying to tell him with my eyes to play along. I glanced at Bethany, who stood leaning against the tomb, looking bored. I fixed her position in my mind then took a step toward Eli, putting myself in line between him and Marrow.

“Do you remember the first time you found out what I was? You know, that night at your house when you kicked me out of your dream, and then you knocked me off your bed, and I tried to get away but couldn’t?”

Eli blinked, frowning. “Yeah?”

I nodded, encouragingly. “Well, this is going to be just like
that
.” I threw my hand toward him. “
Hypno-soma!
”

The spell shot from my fingers, struck Eli, and rebounded. I ducked, and the magic soared past me right into Marrow. He stumbled backward, the sword going slack in his hand.

I aimed a spell at Paul, but Eli punched him in the face first, then kicked him in the stomach, knocking him over. Eli jumped on top of him, fists swinging.

I spun around, going for Bethany. She cast a jab curse at me, but I blocked then countered. She ducked sideways, avoiding my spell. Before either of us could cast another one, a strange noise echoed around the room. The piercing howl of a dog. No, not a dog. A hellhound.

I glanced to my right and saw George charging us, fangs bared and eyes glowing. Marrow, who had only now recovered, flung a spell at the animal, but George jumped over it easily.

Bethany cast a spell at the hound, but before it reached George, a magic shield popped up around him, and the spell bounced off, streaking upward and striking the ceiling. Huge chunks of rock broke free and fell down on us. One struck me behind the ear, making me see stars.

I blinked them away in time to see George drawing close. I fell down as I tried to avoid him, but the hellhound leaped past me, going for Marrow who had been knocked over by the falling rock. But before George reached him, the black phoenix swooped down. It collided with the hound and sent him careening sideways, yelping.

Someone cried out in alarm, and as I got back to my feet, I saw it was Culpepper. He was in full demon mode, green eyes aglow and horns exposed. He aimed a spell at the phoenix, only to have it countered by Bethany. At the same time, Marrow struck Culpepper with a curse I didn’t recognize, but it lifted Culpepper off his feet, spun him like a top, and flung him halfway across the room.

I bashed Marrow in the knee with my foot. His eyes widened in surprise, and he went down, striking the floor with a satisfying smack. I dove for Excalibur still in Marrow’s hands, but one of Bethany’s spells hit me. Gashes appeared on my arms and down my side where the magic struck, slicing through clothes and skin. I screamed and turned on her.

“Come on, little girl,” Bethany taunted. “Give it a try.”

Boom!

A spell struck the ceiling above Bethany, raining down more rocks on top of her, enough that she disappeared beneath them. I had no idea where the spell came from, but then a voice I would’ve recognized anywhere said, “You never did know when to shut up, Beth.”

My mother stood up from behind the tomb.

“
Mom!
” Relief and joy filled me near to bursting, making me feel weightless.

Moira pointed a hand at me and uttered a spell. I backed up, bracing for the attack, but the magic hit Marrow instead.

“Get behind the tomb, Destiny,” Moira said as she aimed another spell at Marrow.

I took an automatic step toward her then remembered Selene. I pointed at her. “Ou-agra.” The silver ropes fell away at once, and she bounded to her feet.

“Watch out, Eli!” Selene shouted, and she let fly a befuddlement jinx. I glanced over my shoulder to see the spell strike Paul. He swayed on his feet, and Eli punched him again, sending him reeling.