Storm Of Magick Part 13

The ball enveloped her entire body and she screamed. It echoed and vibrated round the room, but what I thought was pain turned into laughter. My power felt good to her. s.h.i.+t. Was there anything we could do to take Palmira down a peg or two?

"I'm too powerful, little one. The night grows short..."

My mind raced, trying to figure out how to get us out with Caleb and our a.s.ses intact. I used my link with Connor, telling him to get Caleb and leave. I was amazed to see how easy it was. Everything had to be synchronized for it to work. While she rambled on about how powerful and great she was, I started borrowing powers from my men.

When she least expected it I blasted her with all my magick, and again she laughed. At the same time, Ronan whispered his magick overload spell. Between the two of us, we would put her down.

After a couple of seconds her bodyguards caught on that, something was wrong. Alex did a little earth shake to keep them back. They were too busy trying to stay on their feet and ended up looking like monkeys dancing in a cage. Somehow, ice appeared under their feet. Was it a miscalculation on Frost's part? I don't know, but they went down on their a.s.ses.

Before I sent the last of the magick blast into Palmira, I reached out with whatever it was I had with Connor to see if he'd found Caleb. He had. I sent him a message to get out than cut off my link. I had to finish this now; I was starting to weaken.

"The next time we meet I will kill you," I said through gritted teeth. She looked at me and her eyes grew large. I don't know what she saw, but I scared her.

I sent the last bit of magick into Lilith. She collapsed and so did I. Paris picked me up and we started back towards the door. I looked back over Paris's shoulder and n.o.body was moving. The creature and Frost stood vacant without anyone to give them orders.

I couldn't rest until we were safely out. Once again, the exit sign glowed. I felt a little relieved to be leaving, but I was sure we would be seeing Palmira again. The next time we had to be better prepared. Ailin opened the door and Frost's storm raged outside. According to our negotiation, the snow should've stayed away until morning. Four inches had piled up with a layer of ice underneath.

I knew we had to get away. Everyone was tense; it showed in their faces. A couple of the men frantically cleaned both vehicles. The SUVs were cleaned and we all piled in. I called Doc again to have him meet us at the Realm. He didn't sound too happy. He was getting a lot of over-time lately.

"Why do I feel so s.h.i.+tty?" I asked, not really asking anyone specifically.

"You have to recharge. Protein is best for replacing the energy you have lost," Ronan answered.

Again, snow covered the road. The trees glistened with a fresh coating of ice and when the headlights s.h.i.+ned on them, they sparkled like crystals. The wind whipped the vehicle around, making it difficult just to stay in control.

I couldn't do any spells to help. I was out of supernatural energy after the last spell and we had to make it back the conventional way. I looked in the side mirror. I had to make sure Alex and the others were still behind us. They were, but I could barely see the headlights due to the pouring snow.

I looked back to see how badly Caleb was hurt. He lay in the back, cradled in Connor's arms. I couldn't really see how bad his injuries were. I hoped he wasn't severely hurt. I hated saying 'I told you so' but dammit, I did.

"Connor, how's Caleb?" I asked.

"His pulse and breathing are normal but he still has not opened his eyes," Connor explained.

"d.a.m.n him. Why didn't he stay at the Realm?" I b.i.t.c.hed.

"You cannot keep everyone safe. You warned him and that is all you can do," Ronan said in a soothing voice.

I knew what he said was true, but I didn't have to like it or accept it. In fact, I hated the thought. My mind wandered back to Sam and I hoped she came out of the coma with no lasting problems. But, the longer she was in the coma, the less likely it was. Now Caleb lay in the back of the SUV with the s.h.i.+t beaten out of him. I tried to enter his thoughts but there was just blackness. My heart sank. I pulled my cell phone out of my pocket and dialed the hospital, hating that there wasn't anything I could do for anyone.

"I'm calling to check on Samantha Williams," I said, hoping for some good news.

"There's been no change, Ms. Wolf. I'm sorry," the nurse answered.

I thanked her and I told her I would call again. I finally felt my body starting to stiffen and ache. I glanced back and wondered how many others were hurt and how bad. In the distance, I could see the Realm.

Chapter 16.

Rage coursed through my veins as I thought about the last couple of hours. We weren't prepared for the Bloodshed. "Ronan, what the h.e.l.l was this meeting about anyway?" I b.i.t.c.hed.

"Basically it was to size each other up. However, whatever Palmira did to the young werebear, she broke the rules," Ronan said, no emotions on his face.

"d.a.m.n straight, she crossed the line. If she breaks one more rule, mark my words, Ronan, I will kill her," I said. I was in a place I rarely went to. Kill first and sort the s.h.i.+t out later. Palmira was dead; she just didn't know it yet.

"You cannot," Ronan stated. Horror filled his violet eyes and a cool wind radiated from him.

"Bulls.h.i.+t! She broke the rules, you said so yourself, Ronan. Screw the Elders. No one messes with the people I care about!" I yelled.

The level of magick in the car intensified. My powers were connected to my emotions, as were everyone else's around me. There was a warm and cold touchable charge to the air. I guess everyone was either p.i.s.sed off or scared. I wasn't scared.

Paris pulled into the Realm's parking lot. We slid to a stop. I opened the door, got out and started for the side door. The snowstorm seemed to follow us and now I knew it was Frost, but I wasn't sure how to handle him. I wondered how someone as powerful as Frost was mixed up with Palmira. My gut said that he was more powerful than her.

Connor gently carried Caleb inside, and all the other men made it on their own. They slowly filed pa.s.sed me, their faces saying they were as p.i.s.sed as me. That was a good thing. We slowly made our way back down to the living quarters. My cell phone rang, the Twilight Zone ring tone filling the stairway and echoing off the stone walls. I got it out of my pocket and answered.

"Logan Wolf."

"Little witch, it was very rude of you to leave without saying good-bye," Palmira purred.

"You psycho b.i.t.c.h. When I see you again, I will kill you," I said through gritted teeth, my voice low. It took everything I had in me not to scream it at her.

I clutched the phone so tight that the plastic popped a couple of times. Everyone else left me to my ranting. They needed to be checked out by Doc. I'd survive.

"See, you are being rude again and I have such a grand surprise for you," she chided me.

I fell silent, paralyzed with fear of what she would say. Whatever it was, I knew it was a bad thing. "What, you're leaving town and taking all your b.u.t.t monkeys with you?" I answered finally.

"Oh no. Your sweet twin brother has come for a visit. He tastes so yummy." Palmira laughed. "So much better than the werefox king."

I frowned worry eating at me. "He's not in town," I answered. My twin brother, Blaze, was out of town visiting Grams for a week. He wasn't due to come back for a few more days.

"Oh, he has been back for a couple of days," she purred again.

"Let me talk to him," I demanded my heart in my throat.

There was silence. I heard people talking in the background. A cold sweat popped up on my forehead. If Palmira had Blaze, how had she kept me from sensing him? Or, Blaze from trying to contact me, for that matter?

"Logan," Blaze said in a weak voice.

"Blaze, are you okay?" I asked. That was a stupid question. He didn't sound good in the least. Blaze had become cannon fodder. I wanted to kill Palmira more than ever. She was breaking the rules and kidnapping my brother was a fatal mistake.

"I'm okay," he answered. As if that was what I expected him to say. He was lying. I could hear someone faintly whispering close.

"I'm coming for you," I said.

The phone went dead. I thought of Blaze - probably not a good idea. A vision hit and I was there. I knew where he was already. He was tied to a chair. His bare chest shone with blood and sweat and, the smell nauseated me. He was in the same condition I'd found Rafe in. He'd been gagged so he couldn't say any spells. She'd temporarily bound his powers.

I saw a hand going towards his chest. He screamed, and the vision ended, but I felt everything. My mind raced. I had to get my brother back. A lump formed in my throat.

Before I could stop it, tears came pouring down my cheeks. I dropped to my knees, screamed, and the phone slid across the stone. It echoed all the way up through the stairwell. Paris and Ronan rushed to me.

Paris knelt down next to me. "Logan, what happened?"

I couldn't look at anyone. "Palmira has Blaze!" I screamed.

Paris sat down next to me, pulling me into his lap, and I let him. In fact, deep down I wanted him to. Burying my head in his chest, I sat in his lap, wanting it all to go away. I breathed in his scent of vanilla musk as I cried out bits of my heart.

"We'll get him back," Paris whispered into my ear.

Blaze and Paris had been best friends for the last couple of years. I knew Paris would help me get him back. I sat there in silence, wiping my eyes. A tissue appeared in front of me. I tried to wipe my nose gracefully, then gave up and just blew and jammed the tissue in my coat pocket.

I gathered myself, and went to my kill zone. Now I was ready to handle this and there would be a lot of blood involved.

"I'm okay." I got to my feet and walked into the living room to find it empty. "Ronan, where's Caleb?" I asked, looking around.

"He's with Alex and Doc. Alex will have to help him s.h.i.+ft. It is the only way he can heal his injuries in a timely manner," Ronan explained.

"What was wrong with him?" I asked.

"It was Palmira's version of a power overload," he answered in a careful voice.

"That could've killed him," I said, starting to pace. "When will Palmira have to sleep? She must sleep since she feeds like a vashon. She doesn't act like any lycanthrope I know. I have to get back in there," I said.

"Logan, have you lost it? You can't go back in there today! We barely made it out the first time," Paris exclaimed.

"She has my brother, Paris. I can't just let her feed on him. Because that's what I saw in my last vision, Palmira feeding on Blaze and him screaming! She fed on him like a vashon! I felt it," I snapped.

"Are you sure that is what you saw?" Ronan asked. He was so still I thought if I blinked, he'd be gone.

"Ronan, I know what I saw. Plus he had the telltale sign of the hand-shaped red welt on his chest," I explained.

"It is unheard of. There has to be something more special about her. Palmira should have to feed like a shape s.h.i.+fter," he said calmly.

So is a vashon witch, but there stands Connor. I didn't say that out loud. It was something I didn't want to get into. "Ronan, can Ailin get on the phone and see what can be bargained for my brother?" I asked, determined to get Blaze out tonight.

"You need to rest and recharge. You will be of no use to him right now. If you rest," Ronan said, holding his hand up. He knew I would object. "I will do as you ask. But you will have to be patient."

s.h.i.+t! Patience and I didn't mix. Now it was worse because Blaze needed me. As far back as I could remember I've protected my brother. We've been together since before we were born. I felt everything he did, if I thought hard on it.

"You have an hour to tell me something. I'm going to check on Caleb," I said.

Without another word, I walked out of the room. At the far end of the corridor, I saw Connor. He stood in the doorway, standing guard over Caleb. I was impressed he stayed with Caleb even without me asking him to. I walked towards him.

"Connor, are you okay? Were you injured?" I asked, looking up into his beautiful green eyes.

"I am well, thank you," he answered in his rolling Scottish accent.

He stepped aside enough for me to pa.s.s. I saw Alex and Doc, but what caught my eye was the bear in the middle of the room, his fur the same copper shade as his eyes. I didn't have to ask - I knew it was Caleb. There was no mistaking it. I walked to him, bent down and looked in his eyes.

"You had me worried," I said. I rubbed his head, taking in his lavender smell. He was a lot softer than I thought he'd be. He laid his head against mine. I took it as his way of saying "I'm sorry."

"How's he doing?" I asked, looking at Doc.

"He'll be fine. But, he needs to feed to regain his strength, which means hunting. So you see, Logan, he needs his clan," Alex said.

Oh great! Just what I didn't need right now. If Alex wanted to argue, I had no problem with it. "I guess the problem is you shouldn't have given Caleb an ultimatum. Did it make you feel like a big man?" I asked, not backing down this time. Maybe I should have kept my mouth shut, but I was looking for a fight.

"No, I don't want him around you," Alex answered in a low, carefully controlled voice. The kind of voice someone uses so they won't go off the deep end. Anger radiated off him as if it were a living, breathing thing, touchable and hot. Alex's eyes bled yellow, and I felt his hatred for witches.

My magick deep inside churned, and right at that moment I had to fight to control it. I sent out a calming vibe. I knew the condescending look Alex was giving me. I had seen it many times growing up. He was prejudiced against witches.

"Alex, I don't know what happened to you to make you hate witches, but I'm not the enemy," I said in a non-threatening voice. But, apparently just knowing me made me a threat.

His eyes grew larger. I'd hit a raw nerve. Doc must have sensed something; he turned and rushed from the room with Caleb hot on his heels. I would've liked to have done the same, and leave Alex and his hatred in the warm and fuzzy place they were in. But, one way or another, this was going to be settled now.

"You're right! I can't stand that you're a witch and I hate what you did to me!" Alex yelled.

I could taste his anger like sour bile on the back of my tongue. "This ends now, Alex, I'm sick of your s.h.i.+t. If you want to do this blow by blow we can." I spat every word in his face.

He took a step toward me. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Connor slowly walking towards us.

"I am sorry for your misfortune, my friend, but this cannot happen," Connor stated.

His voice held magick and it danced in the air around Alex. I looked at one man, then the other. The power level in the room shot up. I stepped in between them, putting my hands on their chests. I noticed absently that both had wonderfully firm chests. My hands tingled. Not good.

"Connor, step back," I said in a low voice.

Before anyone could react, our powers clashed like mighty t.i.tans. We were all thrown back. I hit the floor so hard it jarred my head. I heard running in the corridor coming towards us. The room started to shake. I looked at Alex. His fingers had elongated with claws and his canines grew. The room filled with the smell of sage.

"Alex, you're not doing this," I said.

I whispered a spell; it was to open his eyes and make him see the truth. He threw his arms in the air and screamed. Well, more of a growl than a scream. He fell to his knees and sobbed. I slowly walked towards him. Paris and Ronan reached the doorway. I held up my hand and shook my head.

"Can you give us a moment alone?" I asked, looking mainly at Paris.

"Sure, but we'll be right outside," Paris advised, looking from me to Alex.

"I think we'll be fine. Can you close the door?" I asked. He did so.

I took my leather trench off and I laid it on a brown leather chair that sat close. The leather on leather slapped together with a puff of smell. I took off all the knives and laid them down as well. Glancing at Alex, I saw his hands were back to normal. His sobbing sounded so painful. His face was buried in his hands and his back shook with his crying. I sat down next to him on the floor.

"Alex, look at me. Please talk to me," I said, swallowing back his pain. So, I was an empath, s.h.i.+t. The last thing I needed.