Chapter 24
Clara had never been so impressed by one of her relatives. Most were content to run. Jacinda was determined to stop Thanatos. And her idea was solid.
No one had come up with anything half as crazy, or as likely to work. And if it were anyone else, she wouldn’t believe they stood a chance. But when she was a child, she dreamed of a girl with red hair who could turn the tide of all their fates.
Five total left, but one was just an infant and the young mother didn’t yet understand that sometimes the best motivation to keep fighting was the little girl in the crib.
Her own children were dead and gone. And she hadn’t been close enough to save either of them. At least Mina saved her daughter, or at least prevented Thanatos from hunting her long enough to form a plan.
“That fool who is helping Thanatos is your brother?” Clara asked, pinning Olivier with a glare.
He nodded. “Unfortunately, I’ve never known the best way to deal with him. He feels as if I’ve abandoned him, and maybe I have. But his ability with spirits has never been kept in check. He poses a threat to everyone he comes in contact with, and I don’t know another way to deal with him.”
Matoskah sat down beside Olivier. “This isn’t your fault. He won’t participate when I take people to Seattle, or any other of the outings. He doesn’t want to associate with the other members of the community and seems depressed because he couldn’t communicate with the majority of his familiars.”
“Maybe there was never a good answer for him. I just don’t know what to believe anymore.” Olivier managed a smile. “Robert, whatever you have to do, I’ll accept it.”
He shook his head. “That will all depend on what Lars attempts to do and how far he gets. If we stop Thanatos before the ritual gets too far, maybe we can figure out another place for him, where he won’t feel the same way.”
“You’re a good man, Robert. You have no reason to trust he won’t always be like that, and you’re looking for another way to deal with him.”
“We all deserve a chance. And I have to believe he doesn’t truly know what he’s getting into.”
Brent nodded. “Most sorcerers who lean too heavily on the spirits find themselves in trouble. If he survives this, fully himself, I’m willing to help if it’s possible. He has to make that choice and mean it, though. His problem is kind of like an addict’s.”
“Thanks,” Olivier said.
Clara cleared her throat as she sat back. “We need to act. We have everyone here. Everyone knows the plan. If anyone wants to sit this out, speak now.”
“I’ll even take you back,” Robert said.
“We’re already here, and I’m ready,” Brialle stated. “I’m eager to stop him.”
Jacinda stood up, determination shining in her green eyes. “I want Thanatos dead. Scathane too. And for the record, as long as Lars doesn’t get in my way, I don’t much care what happens to him.”
A snort escaped Olivier. “In your position, I wouldn’t blame you if you wanted him dead, and I sure as hell won’t hold it against you if you do kill him.”
Jacinda didn’t wait for anyone else to say anything before she started to pull on her gear.
Chatan dropped his head, shaking it.
Clara couldn’t hide the smile. She wanted to see this girl succeed. Chatan could learn something from Luca on accepting that his woman was going to do as she pleased when she wanted to.
Joining Jacinda, Clara pulled on her own gear.
* * * *
Chatan couldn’t help wondering what in the hell Luca was. He was kicking off some kind of primal energy unlike he’d ever sensed. A shifter of some form, but Chatan didn’t have a clue what.
Luca hadn’t bothered to put on gear, and Chatan asked, “Don’t you need something warmer?”
He shook his head. “I shift into something that belongs on these mountains.”
“What’s that?” Chatan asked.
“A yeti.” He stepped outside and grew several feet, his shoulders broadening, and white fur replacing his clothes. He glanced back, his eyes pure black, but a smile on his face.
Jacinda blinked, then smiled. “Never expected to meet a yeti. Most of the stories said you all were extinct.”
“What about all those pictures and sightings?” Chatan asked.
Jacinda lifted a shoulder. “Those are most often hoaxes.”
Luca nodded. “She’s right, but there are a few of us left. We just happen to be better at hiding, and most of us have gotten used to our human forms. Those who haven’t, tend to be hunted down.”
“I’m sorry,” Chatan said, shaking his head. “Does that mean you start life as the yeti?”
“We’re an old magic people, here long before humans.” He lifted a shoulder. “There were few of us, and to better fit in, we learned to shift. I can take on many forms.”
“But some don’t like to?” Jacinda asked.
“Sadly, no.” Luca reached for Clara’s hand. “But Clara understands what it’s like to be hunted. And not only by Thanatos. No, she was also hunted by the Dark Templar for saving people they would have preferred to starve out of a village.”
“What?” Robert asked.
“Don’t worry. That was long before your time, and your family has always been a part of the Branches of Emrys. Not the Dark Templar.”
Robert nodded. “For what it’s worth, the Dark Templar are no more, and I’m working to change what I can in the Council.”
“I’m sure you are,” Clara said. “And if I was worried about you, you wouldn’t be here now.”
He dipped his head.
Jacinda looked at Chatan. “I’m going to see if I can pull on the taint Thanatos has left in Lars. See if I can get him to show himself that way. I may need your help.” She looked first at Savon, who had been there but quiet. Then she met Brent’s gaze. “I know you don’t like this plan, but it’s the best we’ve got.”
Brent nodded. “I’m only concerned that if he’s already tainted, we may not be able to strip the taint out of the man.”
“That was his choice,” Olivier stated, but his heart wasn’t in the statement.
“I may know a place for him,” Luca suggested. “A group of sorcerers shunned for the very same reasons he is shunned now.”
“If it’s not too late,” Olivier muttered.
Jacinda slipped past everyone into the cold air and started a spell Chatan didn’t recognize but feared. The hair on the back of his neck stood on end as he followed. Then everyone else came out.
A dark smear formed in the air a hundred feet away. Lars fell through, landing on his hands and knees.
All part of Jacinda’s plan. She walked forward, chanting as Thanatos reached through.
Chatan erected a shield and Robert added to it.
Lars screamed out a spell and Thanatos flew out of the tear in the planes and dove straight for Jacinda.
She threw her hands out, shouting her own spell.
Thanatos hit a wall of nothing and went tumbling backward, right into the shield that gave him one hell of a zap.
Savon and Brent moved toward Lars, working a spell together that jarred Chatan’s nerves. Spirit magic tended to unnerve him. The discomfort didn’t stop him from keeping up with Jacinda, ready to take on the beast if need be.
Only one problem, they were already warned not to let the thing touch them. If they did, he would wither and die just like his mother. No, he needed to be smart.
* * * *
On one hand, Jacinda was getting used to being around a bunch of people. On the other, she realized why she liked being on her own. Too much talking, not enough action.
Well, she didn’t want to be on her own now. She wanted to stay with Chatan no matter what. He could talk to her for years and she wouldn’t mind. But he was different.
No, these people were too busy trying not to step on anyone’s toes, and she just wanted all of it over with. She was so close to having a normal life, finally. No one could blame her for being anxious to finish this.
Chatan hovered beside her, waiting for his move. Not that she was sure what he was actually going to do, but she couldn’t worry about that just then.
Thanatos pushed himself up and charged at her. She threw her hands out, whispering a spell. Twines of lightning and fire whipped out, locking around Thanatos. He fell to the ground, his wings wrapped tight around his body.
Robert cast another spell, this one putting Thanatos under.
Chatan snarled as he glanced around, then flung his hands toward the brush surrounding the house. It grew into vines with long, sharp points that he guided with hand movements. The mutated plant flowed around Thanatos, wrapping tightly before the ends plunged through Thanatos’ body, into the ground.
Jacinda shouted, “Watch him. If he moves, let me know.” She ran toward Brent while Brialle went to work on pulling their dead relatives out of the shadows, into the world to help with the fight.
* * * *
Brent didn’t mind working with a stronger sorcerer. In fact, he liked the challenge. And Savon was self-taught. She had a good head on her—didn’t dabble where she shouldn’t.
And she worked well with him.
Savon met his gaze. “I think I know how to separate Scathane’s essence from Lars, but he’s going to feel sick. It’s already fused into his body.”
“Start, I’ll add my magic,” Jacinda said.
Brent’s brow arched, but if they were right and she was basically a sponge for magic, she could help.
Savon’s spell rolled around the shield, first hitting Brent and amplifying, then hitting Jacinda and exploding in blinding light.
After a moment they could see Lars on the ground rolling around, clawing at his face as shadows leached from his skin and flowed up, toward the ceiling of the shield.
Lars thrashed around as his body was lifted off the ground, his back bowing. The last of the shadows drifted from him and he fell with a thud, tears streaming down his face.
But there was another problem. There were at least three souls writhing in the shadowy remains of the taint. Not Lars, no, these were hitchhikers. Not strong enough to take control, but enough to make a sorcerer crazy.
“The shield needs to come down, so we can banish the ones still floating in the essence,” Brent announced.
Jacinda touched the shield and it evaporated. Brent started the spell to banish the spirits, and they winked out of existence as Savon cast a spell to burn up the rest of the essence left over from Thanatos.
Robert appeared beside Lars and quietly said, “This is for your own good.” They disappeared in a blink and Brent had to assume they took the bastard to a cell. Maybe he could realize what he had done.