CHAPTER 22

 

 

 

Astix and Aisanna clenched their hands tighter with every passing second. Each sister tried, in her own way, not to think of what was at stake. Not to focus on the possibility of failure. Fought to read the shifting words on the page of their spell book and believe what they did would make a difference.

“Bound for love and not for woe. Threads of life to steal from night, magic bright and give to light,” they called in unison. “Gods above please hear this plea. As it is willed, so must it be.”

They finished the spell together, both voices fighting to be heard. Astix felt a familiar stirring of power, something inside of herself, an integral piece of her chemical and spiritual makeup. She closed her eyes, inhaled, and released it.

Please, let this work. Her last thought as they unleashed the ancient magic of their lineage. Please!

Silver sparks burst to life in a circle around their youngest sister. Astix could make out only the vaguest outline of Karsia, watching the gemstone heart in her hand dissolve. Her next breath ended in a scream when the rest of Karsia’s body crumbled. “No!”

“Astix, don’t!”

Blackness turned each inch of supple skin to ash, burning and eating along the lines of her form until nothing remained. The charred skeleton poised in the air for a moment before disintegrating to the cavern floor in a pile of detritus.

Astix continued to scream, allowing Aisanna to pull her to the ground. Their hands slapped the ancient stone in unison and a great resounding boom filled the cavern. A harsh whine rose from the pillars of stone and hairline fissures raced across their surface, a second blast rocking them.

“What the hell is happening?” she screeched.

Aisanna used her body to shield them both from the blinding light. “Close your eyes!”

Astix did, still able to see the glow from behind closed lids. She pressed her forehead to cold limestone and prayed. Prayed that whatever they unleashed would work. The image of her sister’s destroyed form played on a loop in her mind. “No, no,” she moaned.

Light filled every cranny of the cave with the brightness and force of an atom bomb, deadlier for its silence.

She glanced up—nearly blinded—in time to see the fabric of their reality tear. A great rendering in space, filling the cavern with the sound of shredded fabric.

Aisanna scrambled back from the hole, bringing Astix with her.

A foot appeared from the other side.

In an instant, Morgan burst through the gap, his wings scraping the floor. He scrambled across the barrier. The hole closed immediately behind him. Silence filled the space, hanging heavy.

Astix may have said his name. His ears rang like the tolling of a bell and he watched through the buzz as she bolted to her feet, catching sight of the small, damaged body held in those great arms.

She ignored the horns shrinking back into his head. Made no mention of the alabaster feathers rapidly decreasing in size until only a man stood before her. Sound returned in a blast.

“Morgan!”

He dropped to his knees.

“What happened? Oh my God, are you okay? Is she all right?” Aisanna took hold of Karsia and drew her out into the open. Human lips, skin unchanged by fire, the slow uneasy beat of a heart.

“I got her out.” Morgan felt saliva drip from his lips and brought his sleeve up in time to wipe it away.

Aisanna glanced up sharply. “Did you see Cecilia?”

Morgan nodded his head and the motion sent him crumpling to his side, knocking his elbow in the process. “Karsia is not dead. Yet.”

“Rest,” Aisanna said. “You’re no good to us like this.”

“The man deserves a frickin’ thank you, not orders for bed rest,” Astix snapped.

Together, they rolled their little sister onto her back and watched for the rise and fall of her chest. Saw nothing.

Aisanna immediately drew whatever magic she had left and focused her healing power on the girl. “Come on,” she ground out. Her palms rubbed together and a green aura flared around her wrists. She drew strength from the oak, the acorn—Nordic emblems symbolizing life and vitality. Adder’s tongue and amaranth and angelica she used for healing. Bittersweet and bloodroot and cedar.

“Astix. I need you.”

“I don’t know…what I can do,” Astix murmured.

“Let me.” Morgan shuffled forward and placed both hands on the sides of Karsia’s head. “I’ll never give up.” He shot them a tired grin and added his magic to theirs. Seconds ticked by into minutes, first a few and then several. There was no change, though Morgan pushed down the worry. If Karsia insisted on falling into the void, then he would follow and bring her back kicking and screaming if necessary. “Karsia? Speak to me.”

To his surprise, a set of garbled groans answered him.

“Please wake up,” he continued. He pushed her hair away from damp cheeks. “I need you. I need you more than anything else in this world. More than air, more than life. I am nothing without you, Karsia.” He placed a tender kiss on her forehead.

Astix put her hands against his and he felt his skin warm. Her strength poured in through his nerves, into his blood. Morgan drew in a breath and felt light flood his body.

“Yes. That’s it, girls.”

He waited another few seconds, his heart stuttering when Karsia’s eyelashes opened. Lips parted and a breath of stale air escaped her lungs.

“You don’t need to say anything.” Morgan brushed the hair away from Karsia’s face with shaking fingers. “Take it slow.”

Astix and Aisanna were nearly in tears. Stunned, they sat back on their haunches, staring. Thankful.

Karsia gave her arms a testing push and pull. “I heal fast. It’s…part of the witchy family package.” She swallowed, her hand snaking out to find his. “How did you find me?”

It was a whisper, the softest murmur of sound, but it was enough to flood him with happiness.

“I don’t know. A bond. Something based purely on emotion, a connection between my heart and yours that has nothing to do with dark or light, or power or magic. I would find you anywhere, anytime.” He brought her fingers to his lips.

“I will remember.”

She cried out when he grabbed her, crushing her to his chest. Gone was the scent of rotting meat, the underlying tones of death and decay. In its place was a sweetness he could not put his finger on, though he thanked the gods for it.

“I would love for us to have a touching moment here, and not to be the voice of reason or anything, but this place might come down on us if we don’t move.” Aisanna peered up at the stalactites quivering from their aloft positions. “Let’s get to safety before we have our tender moment.”

Morgan used the rest of his strength to draw them both to their feet. “Then we’d better move now.”

Pressing her lips together to fight against the trembling, Karsia stared up at him. The curtain had lifted—so to speak—and she finally saw him for what he was. What he represented. She saw how she was supposed to be and could be again. It stole her breath away.

Coming through the rip between reality and the subconscious had been like being born, only backwards. The immense pressure pushing down on her until the air was sucked out from her lungs.

Her soul, the piece of herself she’d never been aware of before, had teetered on the brink of the abyss. She’d felt death creeping in, reaching out those long splintery branch-like fingers and beckoning her forward with the promise of sweet peace. She would have been gone had Morgan not intervened.

Recognizing the extraordinary lengths he’d gone to for her, she forced her tired body to cooperate when all she wanted was to rest. She sent a tired smile to her sisters. They’d done everything they could to save her and, despite the odds, succeeded.

There was no voice in her head. No hard weight in her chest. She took a moment to listen to the soft beat of a very real heart, muscle and blood instead of cold stone. It was amazing. She was alive and whole.

Something she would never take for granted again.

Leaning heavily on Morgan, she allowed him to lead them from the cavern, confident Astix would keep the ceiling contained.

“Would it be wrong of me to want to sweep you into my arms and never let you go?” Morgan spoke as they walked. He crouched, maintaining his grip on her. Afraid to let go.

She appreciated the contact and squeezed him in return although the action took more than it should have out of her. “No, it’s not wrong. I would be happy to let you. As long as you don’t mind if I snuggle close and refuse to leave.”

He made a small sound of pleasure and slowed his pace.

They made their way out with little fanfare. It took all of their combined strength to make it down the rock face. Karsia didn’t focus on what had happened, or the struggles still in front of them. She was just glad to be alive.

It mortified her, the things she’d done while Darkness controlled her body. The things she’d said and the casualties bobbing in her wake. Yes, logically she knew she couldn’t be held responsible for what had happened. Morgan would surely tell her the same thing once she voiced those thoughts.

But Karsia knew. There was a lot to atone for. Especially with her sisters, who had been there for her when she wasn’t able to help herself, there for her even as she pushed them away. There were certain things they needed to say to each other.

But not tonight.

“I’ve never been this happy to see a car.” Aisanna quickened her steps and leaned down to kiss the hood of the beat-up Crown Vic. “Oh yes. Come to Momma.”

“That’s my chariot you’re fondling,” Morgan made sure to tell her.

“You focus on your other chariot and we will take care of the vehicle. Don’t worry.” Astix opened the door, jerking it outward when it stuck from the icy cold.

Morgan helped Karsia into the back seat and shuffled in beside her. “Gladly.”

Aisanna gunned the motor and allowed it a moment to warm. They sat in the relative quiet simply enjoying the silence. It had been too long since they’d felt safe. Since they weren’t running from something or someone, with a constant threat on their heels.

Karsia allowed herself to sink into him, drawing the scent of him into her lungs. Her professor.

“You know we’re going to have to start over again, right?” she murmured. “I don’t know if we can count our one dinner as a real date. I…was not myself. I hope you’ll accept my apology.”

She felt a deep rumble against her cheek when he chuckled. “Whatever you want, my sweet.”

“What if you get bored with me?” She chewed her thumbnail and deliberated. “I mean, now that I’m me. Normal.”

Astix couldn’t help but put her own two cents into the conversation. “What a thing to say, Karsia. You’re the most stimulating person among us.”

“I highly doubt I’ll ever be bored. You are more than enough excitement for me. I think a bigger problem would be my age.”

Karsia pushed up to look at his face. “How do you figure?”

“I was born in ancient Greece. And you’re, what? Twenty-five?”

“Shut up.” She shoved at him before snuggling closer. What had she said before? About wanting to live a large life? To escape the confines of Chicago? She needed to learn to be careful what she wished for.

She stared at her hand. Her regular, ordinary palm and fingers with no hint of blackness pulsing in her veins. Yes, she thought to herself, it was good to be back. Made sweeter because she’d managed to walk away with the prize.

Morgan.

Aisanna was behind the wheel, Astix riding shotgun, and the lovebirds in the back seat. There was still a long drive ahead of them, miles of dirty snow melting along blacktop and yellow lines. Dusky sunlight blinked through scattered clouds and reflected off the fields still covered with snow.

They had survived. They were headed home. And their hearts were overflowing with gratitude and love.

Karsia didn’t think she’d ever experienced such profound joy.

“My lady.” Morgan brushed a kiss over her hair. “My one and only.”

“Yes, that’s me.”

“Mine, alone,” he said.

“Look here, mister. We are going to be happy together,” she told him, her voice bossy. “We are going to live and love and get married immediately.”

“Get married?”

Astix turned around, keeping one arm on the seat. “You can’t dissuade her. Don’t even try. She’s always been like that. Absolutely sure of what she wants. Jumping ahead and asking questions later.”

Karsia stared at her sister, tears forming at the corners of her eyes. Astix might try to sound tough. Might act the part on more than one occasion. But there was relief in her voice, relief in the lines of her face.

She reached out a hand and placed it on Astix’s shoulder. Delighted when her sister covered it with her own and squeezed.

“I think, in this case, I’m more than willing to oblige her.” Morgan tipped his head back to rest it against the window.

Karsia considered Morgan, with his brilliant mind, sexy rear end, and loyal streak. She curved her lips up into a smile. Yes, it felt right. Absolutely right. She couldn’t think of a better man to spend the rest of her life with. And if her encounter with Darkness left a little something extra with her, say, in the form of extra years of longevity, then she would gladly spend them with him.

“Kiss me,” she insisted, turning her face up to him.

“Happy to oblige you, my darling.”

Their lips met as the sound of the heavy metal bass coming from the radio echoed like a heartbeat in the background. The interior of the car shivered with their combined magic, a power so keen it brought a laugh from Aisanna.

“Mom would really love this. Her three girls paired off with devilishly handsome men. Although I have to say, mine is the handsomest.”

Astix gave her a playful shove. “Dream on. Mine obviously takes first place.”

“And while they are fighting,” Karsia whispered to Morgan, “I will be secure in the knowledge that, like Goldilocks, mine is just right.”

 

**

 

They rounded a curve in the road, with only a few miles left between them and the cabin. Instead of relaxing, Astix shot up in her seat. “Do you see smoke?”

The others craned their necks to catch a glimpse of gray-white mist rising above the treetops.

“I’m sure it’s just Elon putting wet wood on the fire,” Aisanna quipped. “You know he really doesn’t know a thing about keeping one going. Though he does make one hell of a latte.”

“No, it’s something else. Hurry up. I have a bad feeling.” Astix leaned forward and drummed her nails on the dashboard, her stomach churning.

“I’m going as fast as I can.” Aisanna gestured toward the icy slush covering the little-used road. “I really don’t want to wreck Morgan’s car, thank you very much.”

“Then let me out and I’ll run.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“I said let me out!” Astix clawed at the locked handle. “Let me—” She kicked at the door until it burst open, popping on its hinges. “Leo!” With a burst of speed, she took off across the white powdered fields like a hound after a fox. “Leo!”

Aisanna pushed her foot down on the pedal and the car sped up several miles per hour.

“Do you think there’s a problem?” Morgan asked.

“I don’t know, but I hope not. I really, really hope not.”

The closer they got, the clearer it became that they were dealing with no ordinary fire. Gusts of smoke billowed through the trees, carrying black ash staining everything in its path.

“Oh, shit.” Aisanna threw the car into park and turned the key so hard it threatened to break off in the ignition.

Karsia clutched his hand closer, squeezing his fingers with hers. “Morgan?”

They both got out of the car and trotted after Aisanna.

“You two stay here.” She motioned them back, shoving the hat further down on her head.

“Are you kidding me?”

“Stay!”

“I’m not going to sit out another emergency, Aisanna.” Karsia set her shoulders and plowed through the snow in her sister’s footsteps. “You need me.”

At last the cabin came into view. Gone were the roughhewn logs making up the exterior. Gone were the river rock chimney and cheery front stoop. In their place lay a smoldering shell of blackened stones and charred wood. The remains were still alight and crackling cheerfully amidst the total destruction.

Karsia and Morgan both skidded to a halt. She inhaled sharply, covering her mouth with her hand.

Astix had collapsed in the snow, knees buried and head hanging low as she clawed deep grooves in the earth. “No. No, Leo. No!”

Aisanna stared at the inferno mutely. At last she roused herself enough to take Astix by the shoulders. “Stay back. You’re getting too close. You’ll burn yourself.”

“How did this happen?” Morgan asked. “I thought you said this place was protected. Maybe it was just a spark from the fireplace or something. An accident.”

That seemed to penetrate Astix’s panic. She raised her head, as if testing the air. “Wards. The wards are down. This was no accident. Leo!” She lunged again but Aisanna held her tight.

“You don’t know if he was in there.” Karsia moved to her sisters and crouched in the snow beside them. “There’s probably nothing to worry about.”

Silently, Astix pointed to the left. Parked along the edge of the field was Leo’s black Lincoln Town Car. “My life, my house, my Leo…gone. All gone, all gone.”

“Snap out of it!” Aisanna demanded. “He’s alive. You would know if he’s dead. You’re not thinking straight.”

Astix was completely disoriented. She felt the wrongness of the situation, and part of her knew her sister was correct. The other part looked at the devastation, heard herself screaming, and wept anew.

“Look at me. Look at me!” Aisanna shook her shoulders. Stared at her pleadingly even as her voice sounded cold and detached. “I’m trying not to lose my shit. Elon was in that house, too, and I refuse to believe he’s dead.”

Astix had seen destruction before. Lived through countless ups and downs and situations no mortal woman would ever experience. All of those times she’d never been truly frightened for her future. Not so this time. This time, she was petrified.

She couldn’t speak. Only struggle to breathe. Her bloodless lips formed the words what happened, and she felt her eyes rolling back into her head.

“I don’t know, but get back in the car. Get in the car,” Aisanna said in her dead voice.

“Leo? Elon?” Karsia queried softly. “What now?”

“We regroup.”

Karsia had never heard anything like the coldness in Aisanna’s tone. It chilled her through her bones, straight to her core.

“Morgan, help them. Help them both.” She stared at the house, at what was left of the foundation crackling in the blazing inferno. Tried to pull on every ounce of calm she possessed so she could be the voice of reason.

Then she turned away, and didn’t spare another glance back. “I’ll find who did this,” she vowed. “And I will kill them.”

Morgan led both sisters to the car, supporting them along the way. Breathing hard, he packed them into the back seat. Two hollow, emotionless shells of slightly differing sizes.

Then Karsia turned to him. And he stopped breathing. He touched her arm and her gaze met his. “Please tell me you don’t still feel the effects of…” He trailed off.

Her eyes went quickly toward his fingers. She shot him a tight smile. “Don’t worry about me. I’m fine. But this…this is the final straw. I can’t have you deny me payback this time.”

He saw that she was set to argue, and stepped between her and the open car door. “There’s no time now, and no way I’d be able to deal with this on my own. But I will tell you this. When the time comes to punish those responsible, I will not stop you. Neither will I stand behind you and watch. I’ll be at your side fighting. Trust me.”

Karsia clenched her teeth against rush after rush of nausea, her stomach turning cartwheels. “Deal.” Holding her breath, she climbed into the back seat alongside the others and drew Astix close. “Sweetie, it’s going to be okay.”

Morgan and Aisanna stared at each other for a moment before she tossed him the keys, still clenched in her fist. She stifled a shuddering gasp and leaned her forehead against the cool glass of the window.

He got into the driver’s seat and flashed a glance back at Karsia.

“Get us away from here. I don’t care where, just drive. Whoever did this is still out there.” She ran her hand in calming circles around Astix’s upper shoulders.

“We’ll go to my place. Until we figure this out. I have more than enough room for everyone there. We can decide what needs to be done and make a plan.” Morgan looked to her for approval.

Karsia nodded, mouthing the words I love you. It brought a smile to his face as he threw the car into reverse.