Chapter 23
“Okay, wait,” Clara said. “Your contact is already working on getting my family here?”
Luca nodded. “Yeah. Apparently, the Branches of Emrys are already involved, which means they are trying to recruit that girl.”
“Is that good or bad?”
“Good, mostly. Look, just because I pissed off one of the founding members doesn’t mean I’m out of the organization. I’ve always been somewhat of a special case. They call on me when they need my skills, which isn’t constantly. But it sounds like one of our earliest members has chosen Jacinda. Long before my time.”
“Dove was part of the Branches of Emrys?”
“Yes, she was. But that was long before my time,” he repeated.
“What is she now? I only know she attempts to stop Thanatos.”
“She will help Jacinda and Chatan stop Thanatos.”
“How do you know?”
“Ceridwen believes it.”
“Does that mean she’ll be coming here? Will she do something to you?” The hint of hysteria in her voice unnerved her, but she couldn’t live without him. She didn’t want to.
“No. She knows where I am. If she wanted to harm me, she would have done it by now. She may be mad, but I believe she realizes I did not lock away her lover. By now, she must realize I didn’t want Myrddin to do what he did. But Dove did the same thing, and Jacinda freed Dove. I believe Jacinda will help Myrddin escape his prison, without freeing another like Scathane.”
“How long have the Branches been hunting Thanatos?”
“Honestly, I believe it’s a recent development. Sounds as if they didn’t know Scathane had possessed Thanatos.” Luca took her hands. “Listen to me. I did not know the connection, even if they did. I have never been dishonest with you. You know my secrets. You do.”
“I know.” Clara kissed Luca, threading her fingers into his hair.
A voice sounded from the bowl. “Clara, are you there?”
Jacinda. Already.
She pulled away and peered into the water. “I’m here.”
“Good, thank God. Chatan, Robert, and Draecyn will be with me when we show up. Draecyn knows Luca. I hope that’s all right. More will be coming shortly. This might take a lot of cooperation from many people. I hope you don’t mind,” Jacinda said.
Clara smiled. “I don’t mind in the least. I haven’t been around many people in decades. We visit the town, occasionally, but we get food and come straight back. It’s always a journey.”
“We’ll be there soon,” Jacinda promised, then disappeared.
Clara looked at Luca. “Think you’ll frighten them?”
“Don’t really care. And they won’t see my other side unless my beast needs to come out. But considering the Branches of Emrys are a diverse group, I doubt that should be an issue.”
* * * *
Jacinda pulled on the snow suit like a pro. Chatan couldn’t manage to figure it all out, and he felt like a fool. Jacinda came over fully dressed and helped him into the gear.
He ducked his head. “You’ve done this before?”
“Not my first trip to the area,” she admitted. “I visited a shaman who was well versed in ancient languages and symbols. They had never seen your tribe’s. I looked in the wrong places for many years.”
“Is that what Tyrell used?” Draecyn asked.
Jacinda nodded. “He mixed them with four other languages. Took years to figure out most of them. And until I found Chatan, I didn’t have a clue what the last language was. No one I visited had seen anything like it.”
“Because the people of Wanatoga are a far older tribe, and they don’t always share their secrets,” explained Draecyn.
Chatan tipped his head back and forth. “No, but some of those secrets involve the Branches of Emrys. Which makes me wonder how much our elders know about all of this.”
“More than they’ve told you,” Draecyn answered. “But don’t worry, I believe they’ll fill you both in soon.”
“If we manage to stop Thanatos,” Jacinda answered.
“We will,” Chatan assured. “We should go.”
Robert nodded. “I’m ready if you are. The rest of us will be there shortly after.”
Jacinda offered a tight smile.
Then they were in the snow.
* * * *
Power flowed around Thanatos, calling to him.
Jacinda was close. The one who could end the torment and free him. And with the way Scathane was treating Lars, he knew what was coming. The poor bastard would become something less than what he’d always been.
The creature he’d summoned couldn’t free Lars, any more than he could give power to Thanatos. It took years of suffering, while Scathane drained his magic. Sure, he gained his strength back, but he lost his freedom and his ability to roam the world in his search of a place to fit in.
And helping Lars meant Thanatos finally gained his freedom, though he was starting to believe it might lead to his death.
But holding onto Scathane meant he could never gain back his strength. Sooner or later something had to change.
Scathane pushed to the surface.
“It is time,” he announced, the power of Scathane echoing through the cavern.
Lars popped to his feet, eager light in his eyes. “I’m ready.”
Thanatos started the spell to tear the veil open. He could not cross himself, but Lars could, then pull him through.
Freedom was close. Jacinda was there, her power unlike anything he had ever felt. Perhaps there was hope. He could take her essence, fuse it into himself, and become immortal, as he had planned all along. Scathane could fuse with Lars within the mortal realm, and perhaps he would finally meet his goal.
* * * *
Jacinda turned to find a man who looked very similar to Olivier, only shadows filled his aura. In fact, shadows seemed to seep from his nose, mouth, and eyes.
He slipped down the mountain and fell face first into bushes.
“That’s Lars Montreux,” Robert said.
“Can he be helped?” Chatan asked.
Something told her it was already too late. “Doubtful. We need to get inside.”
“Once I step into the home, I should be able to bring the others directly there.”
Lars burst forward, slinging a spell.
Jacinda threw her hands up, a glittering wall of light blocking the lobbed, shadowy orb. “You want to be free?” she asked.
“My freedom comes with your death. Power will rush into me.” He walked toward the shield and called Thanatos forward.
The shadowy form stepped into the world.
Chatan scooped Jacinda over his shoulder and ran as a dazzling shield blinded her.
“Inside, now!” Clara shouted.
Chatan stopped and set her down. Robert let out a breath.
Draecyn slammed the door shut. “That’s Thanatos and Scathane?” He shook his head. “I knew he was twisted into something else, but he looks like a high demon.”
“He’s not,” Jacinda answered.
Clara blinked. “Aren’t you the magister of the Silver Council?”
Robert nodded. “Don’t worry, I’m not here for anything more than to stop that thing.”
She nodded slowly.
The man with curly white hair spoke up, “You’re Wilhelm McCallister’s son, aren’t you?”
Robert nodded, his brow pinched.
“I was a friend of his. I’m Luca.”
“Robert,” he answered, then shook his head. He turned to Clara. “Can I bring the others directly here? We’re all part of the Branches of Emrys, save Jacinda and Chatan, unless they choose to join us.”
Jacinda glanced back at Robert, who dipped his head.
Clara nodded. “Sure. Hang on.” She adjusted the wards. “Go. We’ll be here. I just hope this works.”
“I’ll bring most everyone, then go to get Brialle.” Robert disappeared.
Chatan rubbed at his face, then faced the one with white hair. “Do you know my father? Matoskah?”
The white-haired man smiled. “I do. Is he coming?”
“Should be.”
“I’m Luca. A friend of Draecyn’s.” He met Draecyn’s gaze. “Ceridwen still want my nuts on a platter?”
Chatan snorted.
Draecyn shook his head. “No. And she should be here soon. Sure, she was mad, but she let you walk away because she knew what Myrddin did and why. She took it out on you, but not nearly as bad as she could have.”
“The others need to gear up, then they’ll be here,” Jacinda answered. “In the meantime, let me tell you what should work.”
“You have my attention,” Clara answered.
* * * *
Lars cursed as he dropped to his knees. They disappeared past the door and the entire cabin vanished, as if it had never been.
“They’ll come out soon,” Thanatos hissed. “They have to. They can’t stay there forever, and if people are coming, they are planning something.” Thanatos dragged Lars back into the shadow realm. “You need to stop thinking like a fool trying to break free and start acting like someone who has their freedom. You do now,” Thanatos assured. “I need you, just as you need me.”
Lars nodded. “Tell me what to do.”
“I’ll show you.” Thanatos closed the distance and placed his big, clawed hands on Lars’ forehead.
Images, thoughts, spells, all filled his head in a wave that made him nauseous.