~ Eight ~
SHOWERED AND DRESSED IN my usual uniform of jeans and tank top—this one a pale shade of blue. I picked up my denim jacket and headed for the kitchen, made coffee and consumed almost three cups, with the oversized scones lathered in butter and jam, and silently thanked Mrs. Tunny for her baking skills.
I took my last bite, wondering what the frigging hell I was doing playing with dangerous ancient vampires.
My thoughts bumped into one another and I made a decision to dive into my Shama. Davis and Mrs. Tunny weren’t due for another hour, so I closed my eyes and traveled. A whole lot of white doors appeared in my mind’s landscape. Which one would give me the answers I so wanted and needed?
I heard a flute behind one of the bright white doors and opened it wide and went inside. The music was mesmerizing and began to form words. What do you need, Bobbie Skye? the melody asked in a gentle whisper.
To help a vampire trapped by my grandmother. He is in another realm. He wants to come home and she would want me to help him.
Ah, you need training to enact that spell. Without training, the spell could go horribly wrong. Come back when you are stronger.
That was all I was getting as I felt myself shoved out of the white chamber and standing before its locked white door.
I went to another door and tried to open it, but no matter what I did, it wouldn’t open. I started frantically going from one door to the next. None would open for me.
So I did what I do when I am desperate. I fisted my hands and screamed with frustration, Oh, come on! I need help. My Shama is supposed to help me.
You need training, the voice in my head, my voice, answered. So, my Shama wasn’t about to allow me to use what I couldn’t handle.
Apparently, that was the only answer I was going to get for now.
Okay, at least I was on the right track. Instinct and a good dose of common sense told me Warlock Jeremy Ascot was about to play an important role in my future.
I downed the last of my third cup of coffee and as the sun was now coming up, I headed outdoors. I needed air and some exercise.
I had called Aunt Elle during my limo ride to the castle. She would be expecting a call from me soon to say I was settled in. Should I tell her how settled? Oh no, she would be on the next plane and in danger here. Aunt Elle was human, and I wasn’t exposing her to an ancient vampire. Hell no! This was something she couldn’t help me with, so I would have to put on a happy face and a merry voice.
I was all grown-up and capable of making my own decisions, whether they turned out to be good or bad ones. I was ready. Everything that makes me who I am said I had to help Devin MacLeod escape his curse—a curse I absolutely knew my grandmother would not want him to suffer. She had no choice, but I do. The how was the only question I had.
It was a really cool morning and I dug my hands into the pockets of my denim jacket as I walked, not really looking around as I tried to sort through all my thoughts.
I wondered where Devin MacLeod was. Could he see this far outside? How did that invisible wall thing work? Did the wall travel with him?
It was daylight, so no danger from vicious vampires looking for a meal. In general, I had never been worried about vampires. Now and then, coming home at night, I would be watchful, but I knew I had the skills to deter the ordinary vampire.
I thought of Devin again. Odd, as I couldn’t yet put a face to his voice…
And then I thought of Jeremy. He needed to get his ass over here pronto and he had some explaining to do. How odd to think of Jeremy—a warlock, as a vampire’s brother-in-law. Could things get any stranger?
I was about to find out as the cool morning breeze brought the scent of something gross, really gross to my nostrils. It was like stepping into garbage left outside for a week.
I stopped and looked around. I was out in the open. I purposely had stayed away from the woods. What the holy hell was that awful smell?
“Time to play, witch!” a hoarse voice exploded out of nowhere.
I stared.
A Red Demon, covered in scales, with eyes that burned gold, was grinning at me and flexing his disgusting muscles. He was about twenty feet away from me.
Behind the ugly and I might add naked, disgustingly naked demon was an open portal swirling and spluttering. My witchy senses told me this portal was rudimentary and wouldn’t last long. This portal would close. The demon was here for a job and one he had to accomplish quickly.
That job? Evidently he meant to kill me…which he was coming close to with his scent.
In general, I don’t like demons. They are a nuisance and without any moral compass. You can’t reason with them.
My aunt had always taught me never to take the time to reason with a demon bent on attacking. This particular one was really gross, all brimstone and drool. Eweee.
My mom and Aunt Elle had taught me how to handle a demon when I was only seven years old. They don’t stand a chance against a witch’s magic. Most of them don’t seem to understand that, and demon attacks seem to occur on a regular basis.
I whipped my hand towards the earth and brought up all the water I could muster beneath the demon’s grotesque feet. It was considerable. I held the water just beneath the surface, and thinking he was about to get lucky, he played with his super gross cock.
Oh, this thing had to go.
Water worked on many demons. I held the water at bay, but now I gave him a smile and brought it out of the earth with a force that sent him flying backwards and into his spluttering portal.
He screeched all the while. I smiled.
Closing the portal was easy.
I used a simple spell to lock it on this side. He had not come from the Demon Realm. He had come from somewhere not far off. Even my basic witchy training had taught me to recognize the different classes of portals.
So, where had he come from and who had sent him? Allora. No other would be interested in taking me out. Did she know that I was a MacForly descendent? Or did she just want me out of the way?
Unsettled, even though I had won this first round, I ran, not walked, back to the castle. Just outside the front door I stopped and caught my breath.
With more haste than my usual hasty self, I made my way into the Keep and pulled my phone out of my jeans pocket and called Jeremy.
“Bobbie…” he said pleasantly.
“Don’t Bobbie me. You need to get over here, now, right now. It is one thing to bring me here because you need help, but quite another to let me go this alone. Vampires and demons? Come on. We need to do something and soon.” I was angry.
“I’ll be right over,” he said.
* * * * *
I paced like a lunatic in the library while waiting for Jeremy.
He rushed in and said, “What has happened?”
“What has happened?” I was naturally incredulous. “You dare to ask me that? How could you bring me here and then not tell me the truth?” I accused, and couldn’t stop my wagging finger. “Yesterday, I was being watched by a vampire…in the woods just before dusk. This morning, a demon, a Red Demon, I am sure you know the type, came out of a portal in broad daylight…a naked demon…gross, and I had to deal with it, so you don’t get to ask the questions! I do.”
He sank into a nearby chair and buried his head in his hands before he said, “Heaven forgive me. You were attacked?”
“Not yesterday, but just a while ago…you could say that.” I sat across from him. “And no sense pretending any longer about anything. I have spoken with Devin and know the gist of the story.”
“You…you spoke with Devin?” He seemed more astonished about this than the fact that an aggressive demon had paid me a visit. “That is…impossible. I shielded him against supernatural detection.”
“Well, apparently not against my supernatural detection, but I can’t see him,” I said. “However, never mind that. I want answers…I thought it was Allora we had to worry about. What’s with the demon and if there was a vampire lurking about, does that mean she will be arriving next?” I looked up from my chair and even though I couldn’t see him, I looked for him. I couldn’t see if he was there, and he wasn’t participating in the discussion so I asked, “Devin…you here yet?”
No answer.
Annoying. Where was he?
“Wait…I…how…?” Jeremy tried to speak.
“As I said, I am asking the questions,” I reiterated. “Will the vampire in the woods yesterday report to Allora? I have to figure on the safe side that he will. And what has a demon to do with anything? Does she use demons to do her dirty work?” I demanded.
He shook his head. “This is unexpected. I have never known Allora to consort with demons. She despises all supernaturals other than vampires. However, she may have called on one in exchange for a boon she might allow him. As to the vampire…I don’t think the one you saw in the woods reports directly to her. I have seen him in the village in the evenings and I know he is staying at Allora’s place, Brently Manor, but only because she houses vampires there from time to time. However, I am concerned about the Red Demon. They don’t do favors unless they get one in return. Who is he working for if not Allora?”
“Well, I’ll tell you this. I think if the vamp I encountered yesterday is staying in her place, he must have her cell phone number and given her a call to let her know a woman was installed at MacLeod. She may not know my bloodline and still want me gone,” I offered to myself as well as to Jeremy. I waved this all off. “But that is beside the point. I should have been told about all of this as soon as I arrived.” I put up my hand and stalled his retort. “Let’s cut to the chase, Jeremy. You are an immortal warlock. You brought me here to help rescue Devin, who is trapped in another realm, and I am willing to try and free him, but I need to know everything I might encounter here at MacLeod!” I gave him a look I meant to be withering and added, “And just so we know, I don’t like demons, spiders, or snakes.”
He sank into his chair and stared at me. “I honestly don’t know what to say. I have never encountered a demon of any kind here at MacLeod before.”
“Well, you should have informed me when we had our little talk yesterday about my situation here. You should have told me the truth and the truth is the only thing I will deal with here, or I am gone.”
“Truth? Devin wanted me to tell you everything immediately and give you the opportunity to return to the safety of your life back in New York.”
“Okay, I get it. He is your friend…your brother-in-law, and you didn’t want to blow a chance at freeing him. Fine. But from here on out, no secrets, agreed?”
“Agreed, Bobbie,” he said sincerely. He then lifted his hand and chanted a few words in a language I didn’t recognize, but which immediately translated itself through my Shama.
He stood and put his long fingers out for mine. I gave him my hand and stood with him as a world began to appear before my vision.
I realized my mouth was open, and sucked in my bottom lip. I was astounded as I stared into another world, one of lush vegetation and colorful birds.
In the distance, far away from the jungle before me, was a building…no, not a building, but a ruins of some sort.
Devin, however, was nowhere to be seen.
Finally, one word escaped me, “Whoa.”
It was at that point that I heard Devin’s voice and that of another’s—a female giggling and then calling out, “Devin…darling…?”
Devin came into view, but she ran ahead of him and gave us her back as she put her arms around his neck.
He removed her arms and said, “Loli…ye need to return to the village, now.”
I stood transfixed as I saw Devin MacLeod for the first time. Well, not for the first time, as I immediately recognized him from the portrait in the Great Hall.
Here, however, he stood, his broad chest bare except for the Celtic runes tattooed near his shoulders and over his massive biceps.
Holy frigging shit! Damn, but he was hot. He was handsome…ruggedly handsome, with twinkling blue eyes and a killer smile.
The girl he called Loli whined as he set her aside and complained, “I will go back if you come back with me.” She turned to stare in the direction he was looking and asked, “What do you see on the other side, Devin?”
Loli was lovely, with caramel silky skin, elf-like pointed ears, almond shaped dark eyes, and long black hair. She wore a white tank top much like mine, and cut off jean shorts that barely covered her very fine ass.
Devin took her shoulders. “Go back, Loli, ye don’t belong here, and yer father will be worried.”
“He never worries when I’m with you,” she said, and pouted. “Don’t you like me, Devin? Don’t you want to be with…?”
“Ye be a lovely lass, but nae, I cannae be with ye, child. Ye are far too young for the likes of me. Ye have yer whole life ahead of ye and it is Topser ye should be following about. He wants yer company.”
“I am not a child. Women my age already have children,” she said, and put her hands on her hips.
“Er…Devin!” Jeremy interrupted.
“A moment, Jeremy,” Devin said, not looking our way. “Off with ye, Loli. Go home now!”
She stomped her foot but did, in fact, turn and rush off.
I didn’t blame her for wanting a piece of the gorgeous hunk standing in front of us. Holy good gosh, he rocked my insides.
He wore cut-off jeans that nearly reached his knees, and some kind of sandals that looked handmade. That’s it. Nothing else, and he was a hunk of hot big male that caught my interest and made all my lady parts tingle.
“Well, then,” Jeremy broke the silence. “When you are ready for introductions of the viewing kind, Devin of MacLeod…meet Miss Bobbie Skye, who can now see as well as hear you.”
He eyed us and said, “Well, now, we are on even ground.” He waved a hand over himself. “I apologize for m’appearance, but I was helping Loli’s father and brothers with their barn and haven’t had a chance to go home to shower and change.”
A missy giggle escaped my lips and made me want to slap the side of my head. He made me feel like a school girl crushing. I felt a blush burn my cheeks. Damn, hot damn, but he looked like the best Tarzan I had ever seen, and the thought of being his Jane had me licking my lips.
Hey, but I know better than most that looks don’t mean squat.
Somehow I managed to squelch my way too much interest in his looks and say, “Hi, Devin.”
He smiled and said, “This must be quite startling for ye to take in all at once.”
“Well, after the demon I met this morning, not too startling,” I answered.
He marched up to the transparent wall between us and said, “Demon, lass? What are ye saying?”
“She was accosted by a demon…this morning on MacLeod grounds. A Red Demon,” Jeremy said.
“Bloody hell…Jeremy…what has a demon to do with us? Why would a demon appear here?”
“Look, if it wasn’t Allora, and I don’t think it was, I can only guess that the vampires at Brently Manor know she is a witch. It is possible they are playing dark games…made a deal with the demon who came here…to bring her to them in exchange for something.”
“Why would they want me if they aren’t presently working for Allora?” I asked.
“Yer blood. Yer ‘almost’ encounter with the vampire yesterday allowed him to get yer scent. Witch’s blood is like Ambrosia. Very rare, very desirable,” Devin said.
I didn’t answer as I digested this.
“So, what is the plan?” Jeremy asked suddenly.
“You don’t have one?” I threw up my arms. “Of course, why would you have something as basic as a plan? We had a vampire in the bush, and now a demon in the grass, but no plan. Great, just great.”
Jeremy laughed and under Devin’s sharp eye, found himself coughing away the laugh.
I eyed them both, hands on my hips.
“Och aye, basic is it? Well, as a matter of fact, I have a plan,” Devin said. “First, ye cannae stay here at night.”
“Demons come at all hours,” I answered. “So we need a better plan.”
“Going to stay with her here at MacLeod,” Jeremy stuck in. “I have already decided that is the only way to keep her safe. I’ll have all my calls and as many of my appointments as possible routed here, and that way…”
Devin’s eyes narrowed. “That will look odd.”
“Doesn’t matter what it looks like. It is the answer. She needs to be here and she needs protection.”
“Uhm, let me remind you that she is standing right here and she managed quite well on her own handling said demon. She sent him back from whence he came,” I told the macho men looking consideringly at me.
“Could have been a fluke,” Jeremy said.
“Hey! It wasn’t,” I snapped.
“How did ye do it, lass?” Devin asked gently. “How did ye send him back from whence he came…and where did he come from?”
“His portal was rudimentary. Not the kind that can take one long distances. I saw that at once from the manner in which it was behaving. Look, I am an immortal witch. I use the elements, and in this case, since he was a demon of fire…easily recognizable by the fact that his skin was scorched and leathery…soooo, I called on the water in the earth and used it. Fire demons don’t like water. It melts them. Anyway…sent him back into the portal and I locked it after him. He won’t be able to use it to return here again. He’ll have to conjure up another and demon magic isn’t exceptional with regards to portals. So he won’t be back for a bit, and next time, I shall simply have to kill him and be done,” I answered, and added, “as a rule…I don’t like killing things, but now and then, I guess I’ll have to make an exception.”
I couldn’t help but notice the silence that followed my little diatribe. Both men looked at me as though seeing me for the first time.
I snapped my fingers, and gave them the eye. “What?”
Jeremy said, “You are more capable than I had thought.”
“Which brings me to you,” I told him. “I need you to train me. My Shama says I need training.”
“Your what? What is your Shama?” Jeremy asked.
“It is the magic I can feel under the surface that my Aunt Elle wasn’t able to totally…access,” I told him. “You, being an immortal warlock, can access it and teach me the best way to use and handle it.”
“Well, let’s hope I can,” Jeremy said. “I am going to go and collect my things and arrange matters with my office and get back here as soon as I may.”
“No, wait…I have some knowledge of Druid wards. My mother taught me two wards when I was ten…when she thought we needed to protect our home. They are, she said, unbreakable. We need to ward the castle and the grounds if we want to walk freely,” I said.
“Ye know, lass…ye can return home, be free of all this ugliness. ‘Tis nae yer problem,” Devin said.
“No, I’m staying,” I answered.
Devin’s voice, when he finally spoke again, was laced with irritation. “Do as I ask, Bobbie Skye. Ye must. I can have Jeremy here terminate yer employment and thus, save yer life.”
“No, even if he does that, I won’t leave. I am going to help you. Look here, this Allora bitch hasn’t been here since she incarcerated you twenty-two years ago. According to Jeremy, you guys don’t even think the vampire yesterday was spying for her. So, if she hasn’t even checked up on MacLeod, then we have some time before she does. Right? Right. She wanted you to watch your home fall apart and into ruins. She didn’t know about your warlock brother-in-law here. So, she doesn’t know about me. For the time being, there are things we can do to protect ourselves and then begin the process of freeing you.”
Jeremy looked at Devin and they both sighed before Devin said quietly, “There is one thing ye haven’t taken into account. Surprise is something Allora does. When she cooms, we won’t be expecting it.”
“I will always expect it, so she won’t take me by surprise,” I answered. “Just give me a couple of days with the warlock, Jeremy, here. Let’s see if he can help me unlock some of my powers and then…we’ll see,” I told them both. “Besides, I do have some magical skills already and a brown belt in karate.”
Devin frazzled his thick black hair. “She is a stubborn lass.”
“She is also a MacForly,” Jeremy said thoughtfully.
I smiled. “There ya go. So, now, My Lord, you can go off and play with your pretty friend while Jeremy collects his things, returns, and we start the process of warding and training. Big schedule for today.”
“Play with m’friend…are ye talking about Loli?” He chuckled. “Is that what ye think I was doing? Nae, lass. I was helping her family and she has a habit of following me about, but why I should be explaining that to ye, I dinnae know. At any rate, I’ll get back to what I was doing and look in on ye later.”
He turned and marched off in something of a huff and I wondered at it.
What had I said? And why did the notion of him and the lovely Loli being an item disturb me so very much?