Denai Touch: Excalibar Investigations Series (15 page)

“What happened?” Ceri demanded the second Jason opened his eyes.

Jason gasped, feeling suddenly lightheaded. He had never experienced any kind of astral projection before and his heart ached from the loss of contact. “It worked.” He half smiled.

“Well, of course it did. Where is she?”

He shook his head and staggered up, not liking the feeling of being looked down on. “She didn’t know where they took her and I couldn’t explore the building.”

“You only have a limited range. It connected your souls,” Jade smiled. “Congratulations, you really are soul mates.”

“That changes nothing. We still don’t know where they are,” said Ceri.

“They’re torturing her, but she’s resisting them,” he explained. “You need to send me back quickly. I heard footsteps just before I left.”

“That may not be enough, we won’t be able to sense her until she is free from bondage,” said Ceri. “She’s going to need all of her powers. The full strength.”

Jason watched her pace. “Do you want to trigger the ascension?”

“No, she’s not ready for that yet. It isn't time.”

“What about that silver fire she used before?”

“It’s too new. It can only be triggered by an emotional response. Go back, tell her she has to give herself over to her power.”

“What does that mean?”

“Just go, Talbot.”

“Fine, but make me invisible first to everyone but Cate.”

Cate watched him vanish in a flash of light and her heart suddenly ached, as if part of her was now missing. She had no idea how he projected himself to her, but she felt him inside. It was as if he had somehow been connected to her. Maybe he’d used some kind of spell. A tear rolled down her cheek. It was the first time she had really felt like weeping since her ordeal began, but she wasn’t about to give up. She looked up as the door opened.

“Ready to begin again?” Tasha asked and laughed.

“What happens when Raven finds the book?”

“Why does it matter? You won’t be alive long enough to see it.”

“Right, but you’d need a McCray’s blood and McCray magic to be able to even touch it. Planning on bleeding me to death?”

“You will have to wait and see. That niece of yours is a real whinger. I’ll kill her just to shut her up.”

Cate felt her anger arise. “I’m so going to enjoy killing you.”

“How? Magic can’t harm me.”

“Knives and bullets still work.”

Tasha laughed again. “I’m going to miss you, Cate.”

“What did Raven do to Bethany?” asked Cate, stalling for time. “She was powerless before – much like you. It must be hard seeing your girlfriend bestow power on everyone else, whilst you never get any.”

Tasha’s jaw tightened. “I have my gift and I’m grateful for it. No one can harm me because of what I am.”

“How does that work then? Raven has magic and you don’t.”

“My touch only hurts if I choose it to. I can suppress my anti-magic.”

“You won’t kill me, you know. I haven’t always had much faith in prophecy, but they have a way of coming true.”

“You’ll be dead before you have the chance to do anything. Besides, how could you kill Raven? She has me to protect her.”

“Even you aren’t infallible, Tasha.”

Bethany came back in.
Here we go again,
thought Cate and wished Jason was still there. Even if he couldn’t help, it had been comforting having him with her. Marcus returned, dragging Charlie along with him.

“No more resisting or confusing images. Show me where the Grimoire is or watch your niece die,” said Raven.

What could she do? She had no idea where the book was and her visions weren’t miraculously going to tell her. They would only give her clues. If she lied, Bethany would sense it with her new abilities. She was going to need all her power to try and get free. And then what? There were two Nulls standing between her, Charlie, and Raven. But she wouldn’t sacrifice her no matter what.

“No, Cate – you can’t let her get it,” Charlie cried.

Charlie please forgive me,
she thought. “Fine, go ahead. Kill her. I’ll never let you take the Grimoire.” She reached desperately for her magic, fighting her way through the pain. She thought of Jason and Charlie, of her family. Using her love for them to try and give her the strength.

Charlie, if you can hear me, listen. I won’t let them kill you, but I need you to be ready to run,
Cate told her.
If the Null lets go of you, I want you to faze. Do whatever you have to do. Call for Jason, he’ll get you out. Nod if you can hear me.
She glanced over and Charlie quickly nodded.

“You would never kill your own family,” said Tasha.

“I’ll do whatever it takes to stop you.” She felt a spark of power. She just needed to find a way to build on it. “You heard me, do it. Because I’ll never help you find it.”

“I will have to force you. Marcus, get rid of the girl.” Raven ordered and reached for Cate’s throat.

The power was there, bubbling just beneath the surface. Charlie turned and kicked Marcus in the groin, causing him to scream, but it was enough to make him let go. Charlie’s body blurred as she fazed into incorporeal form. Cate felt power surge through her, enough to break her bonds. Dodging past Raven, Charlie pulled her aunt up and dragged her from the chair. She was free, magic burning to the surface. Cate flung out her arm, sending Bethany crashing into Tasha.

“Let’s get out of here.” Charlie gripped her hand.

“Jason!” Cate called, suddenly realising just how drained she felt.

He appeared in a burst of static and aimed a rifle at Tasha, opening fire. Bethany scrambled to her feet and hurried across the room to Raven.

“Good work, kid. I’ll make an Enforcer out of you yet,” said Cate. “Do you have enough strength to go into the spirit world?”

“I think so.”

“Good, go.”

“What about you?”

“I have things to take care of.” Cate gave her niece a brief hug. “Go!” Charlie dived through the nearest wall.

“The Nuardan must be here,” Raven smiled, glanced around and saw Jason. “Well, I didn’t expect you to come.” She ignored the bullets that Tasha and Marcus were desperately trying to avoid.

Cate raised her hand to blast Raven with kinetic energy, but Bethany jumped in front of her, raised a hand and channelled it back. Cate quickly dodged the blast. Whatever Raven had done, it had given Bethany some serious powers.

Raven shoved Bethany aside and slashed her talon-like claws into Cate’s arm. “Your power weakened me and now it shall restore me.”

Cate cried out as the nails dug deeper.

Static shot from Jason’s hand, striking Raven in the chest. She screamed and staggered back, forcing her to release Cate. “Kill the Nuardan!” she cried.

Cate stared for a moment. She didn’t know what a Nuardan was, but she knew they meant Jason. Static shot from his hand again and Tasha jumped in front of Raven, raising her hand to repel the lightning. It rebounded and flung Jason across the room.

Tasha and Marcus advanced on him. Cate closed her eyes, feeling her power stir to life and finally gave into it. There was a violent impact in the air that shook the room around them. Both the witch and the fey sides of her were angry now and wanted blood. When her eyes opened, they bled bright silver. Silver fire streamed from her hand, instantly incinerating the machine they had used on her. Next, she threw it at Raven, channelling all of her pain and anger into her power. The fire found its target; Raven’s body erupted in flames and made her scream in agony. Cate fired again, but this time Marcus intervened, rebounding her power back at her.

Jason grabbed hold of Cate, pulling her out of the way as the fire hit the wall, burning right through it. “We need to get out of here, now.”

Cate struggled against him and let loose the flames again. She had more energy now Jason was touching her.
Not until she’s dead, until they’re all dead!

He gripped her tighter.
Cate, you can’t kill Nulls!

Tasha desperately tried to extinguish the flames and Marcus made a run for them. Static flashed around them as Jason started to teleport. “Stop them!” Tasha cried as someone else came into the room. He had long, black hair and eyes that had no irises.

Shit!
Cate felt Jason’s panic and knew it was time to flee, so she added her power to his. A kinetic blast hit, just as they disappeared.

Jason felt like he had been punched in the stomach and struggled to keep hold of Cate as stars spiralled around them. It seemed as if he was spinning, eddying through an endless void. There was a bright burst of light, before they appeared on a hard wood floor.

He blinked, seeing they were now in an unfamiliar room. Cate lay beside him, unconscious and bleeding from her wounds. “Cate?” He scrambled over, relieved to see she was still breathing.

“She’ll be all right,” said a voice, matter-of-factly.

Jason looked up to see a very tall woman with long, lilac coloured hair and dark blue eyes flecked with silver. He quickly got up. “Serenity,” he said, stunned. The last person he’d expected to see was Niara, the Serenity and one of the leaders of the Immortals.

“It is unfortunate you did not enter the neutral plane before the Devas attacked,” she said. “Are you injured?”

“No, but…” He motioned to Cate.

“Bring her.” She glided off down the corridor, her long white dress trailing behind her as he lifted Cate into his arms.

Jason paid little attention to his surroundings as he carried her into a bedroom. White linens covered a large four-poster bed. He gently laid Cate down and Niara stood over her, hands raised.

“Don’t hurt her!” he pleaded.

Niara raised one perfectly arched eyebrow. “I would never harm my own granddaughter.”

His eyes widened in surprise. “How is that possible?”

“Simple. Her father is my son.” White light emanated from her hands and washed over Cate. Jason watched as the wounds instantly faded and her dress became undamaged. “Come, she needs to rest a while.”

Jason followed Niara to what looked like a sitting room. “All right, just make it quick.” He knew what was about to happen and only wished he had the chance to say goodbye to Cate.

“I’m afraid I have no idea what you are talking about, Talbot.” She sat down. “If you think that I mean to kill you, then you are mistaken.”

“But you are a leader of the very race that enslaved my father’s people.”

“Correction, I
was
a leader of the Ashrali, but now I am the senior leader of the United Magickind Council and my son is the head of the free Ashrali.”

“Why did you bring us here?”

“The combination of your power and Cate’s shifted you before you could direct the magic to where you wanted to go, and the Deva’s magic would have trapped you between the planes,” said Niara. “Would you like some tea?”

He couldn’t believe he was with Serenity, who some called the ‘Goddess of Magic’. She was an Ashrali leader, the very people who hunted him, and she was offering him tea. His mind was racing with questions that she no doubt could probably hear. This woman was power itself.

“Why aren’t you going to kill me?”

“Because I do not believe that any race should be enslaved and I have done what I can to help the Nuardan people.” She poured out a cup of tea. “Besides, you are my granddaughter’s Mavis and lover. I doubt she would be happy if I harmed you.”

“We’re not lovers. We’re – this is all so confusing.” Jason shook his head. “Serenity…”

“Please call me Niara. I am happy to answer your questions.”

Right, she was Cate’s paternal grandmother, and he had been thinking the strangest thing that day was seeing Ceri McCray again.

“I forgot about you being Cate’s other grandmother,” he admitted. “Why did you save me?”

“Catherine was injured and the Deva would have followed you.”

“I could have fought it. It’s not the first Deva I’ve killed and it won’t be the last.”

“What would you have chosen to do, kill the Deva and live to see another day or save Cate?”

“Save Cate. I’d die for her if I had to.”

“But she needs you just as you need her. A man cannot walk alone forever, Jason Talbot,” Niara said and handed him a cup. “Drink this — it will make you feel better.”

He doubted that but took a sip. It tasted rich and sweet, but he could have used something stronger. He looked up into Niara’s eyes, which looked similar to Cate’s. Only these were more mysterious, holding millennia’s of wisdom. Power clung to her; he could feel it in the air and the elements around him.

“The Covenant won’t stop until they get what they want. They’ll try harder now,” he said. “How can I protect her when so many want us both dead?”

“You fight together to destroy those who seek to harm you and the rest of Magickind,” she said. “You must tell her the truth.”

It was exactly what he had planned to do that night. He was going to tell her everything. There was something more important than protecting his secret and that was her.

“She’ll hate me. I’ve lied to her for so long,” said Jason. “I tried not to, but I knew it was too dangerous.”

“Talbot, it’s time you accepted who and what you are. You need not be ashamed of it.”

“I’ve run all these centuries because I had to. The Devas will keep hunting me until they kill me, or drag me into the Old World to be a slave, along with the rest of the Nuardan. Are you saying I should let the Ashrali win?”

“No, I’m saying that things are changing
and
you have Cate. The tide is turning, the Ashrali are not as strong as they think.”

“What does that mean? Are the Ashrali from Setara going to come after Cate because of me?” he asked. “I thought she would be safe since she’s half Ashrali.”

“Not because of you, but only time will tell.”

“What you mean?”

“There are a lot of things you don
’
t know about Cate or my family.”

“Ironic that I fall for an Ashrali, related to you of all people.”

“Do you judge her for her Ashrali blood?”

“Gods, no. She can’t change what she is, any more than I can.”

“Indeed, and you can no longer hide the truth. Perhaps she will understand.”

Ha! He’d be lucky if she ever looked at him, much less talked to him again. “I know I have to tell her. I just don’t know how I’m supposed to walk away.” Damn that stupid crystal and what Ceri had said. He had actually started to hope there was some kind of future for them.

“Walking away is something you must
not
do.”

“After the ascension she won’t need me anymore.”

“Do you want to leave her?”

“No. I’d sooner die.”

“Then stay, you will be needed.”

“What about Raven?”

“She is far less powerful now and her demise has been a long time coming.”

“Do you really have that much faith in the prophecy?”

“I’m not Seline. I do not have a great devotion to a deity or prophecy. I have faith in Cate.”

Cate opened her eyes to find she was in an unfamiliar room. Dragging herself up, she looked around and felt strangely rejuvenated. There were no visible wounds; Jason must have given her enough energy to heal. A lot of energy it seemed, she didn’t feel the least bit tired. Getting up, she checked herself over. Yep, completely healed. She was going to thank him in a big way. He had helped her stay alive through it all, but first they needed to talk.

Casting her senses out, she instantly felt Jason close by. Hurrying out, she stopped in the doorway and saw him sitting in a living room with Niara.
How did we get here?

She heard them talking and hung back, fully raising her shields, so they hopefully wouldn’t sense her.

“Cate?” Niara called.

Cate took a deep breath and lowered her shields as she walked in. “Grandma,” she smiled and hugged her. Niara returned her embrace and it felt as though she were hugging sunshine. “How did we get here?”

“She brought us here.” Jason got to his feet.

“Do you feel better?” Niara asked her.

“I’m fine.”

“Good, I’m sure there are things you need to discuss and I have a meeting to get to. We’ll talk later, dear.” Niara was gone in a flash of gold light.

“You never mentioned the Serenity was your grandmother,” said Jason.

“I don’t get to see her often. She is the complete opposite of Seline,” said Cate. “Thanks for what you did earlier. I completely lost control and would probably have gotten us both killed.”

“At least you gave Raven something to think about.”

“I should have killed her. I would have.”

“I know, but with two Nulls there, we were at a disadvantage,” he said. “Are you angry with me?”

“No. Why would I be?”

“For stopping you.”

“No, I know you did the right thing. Raven is still strong, despite the fact I’ve weakened her twice now.”

“Twice? When was the first time?”

“It’s a long story and I’ll explain later, but we need to talk. First though…” She wrapped her arms around his neck and drew him down for a passionate kiss.

He groaned and pulled her closer, deepening their kiss.

Reluctantly, she pulled away. “I had to do that before we talked. I’m not sure I’ll feel the same way after.”

Jason looked away. “Cate, I…”

“I know you’re a Nuardan.”

He gaped at her. “How?”

“Raven told me, but I’ve always known you’re more than you seem to be,” she said. “I know the Nuardan are from the Old World, but I don’t exactly know what they – you – are. I’m guessing you’re some kind of Elemental?”

“Nuardan are Gods, who have power over the earth and all its natural elements. Air fire, water, and everything in between,” he replied. “I’m only half Nuardan, so that makes me a demigod and I’m half Denai, as you know.”

“I get that. What I don’t understand is why you’ve never told me before.”

“Because in the Old World the Nuardan are slaves. The Ashrali enslave any race they view as a threat to them.”

She already knew some of the stories about the Ashrali. They were a highly advanced and powerful race of beings, who thought themselves superior to all other nations. After destroying those perceived as dangerous they eventually sealed themselves off from the rest of the world behind a wall of mist. Some people had escaped from the Ashrali’s home, now called the Old World, including Niara and her father.

They sat down on the settee together. Cate didn’t know exactly what she was feeling; anger, hurt, betrayal, sadness — maybe a mixture of them all.

“I wasn’t born in the Old World. My father escaped and then met my mum whilst he sought sanctuary in an abandoned temple. The Ashrali never stop hunting us, that’s why we have to keep moving,” Jason told her. “My parents were only together a few days before he had to leave suddenly, but my mum got pregnant. She said she wanted to go with him, but he wouldn’t let her. He told her to go and have a good life. I used to think he was a coward for abandoning us, but I’m starting to understand why he left. It wouldn’t have been fair to drag my mum and me into this life, knowing that any second a Deva could come and kill us all.”

“What’s a Deva?”

“You remember that night when we were attacked in the alley after I kissed you?”

She nodded. “The creepy guy with long, black hair.”

“That was a Deva. They are assassins sent by the Ashrali to hunt us down, to either kill us or bring us back. They can sense every time I use my powers – especially if I use more than one element. That’s why I have to keep moving and never stay in one place for too long.”

“But you’ve been with me for almost two years. Why did you stay so long if it’s so dangerous?” she asked and then shook her head. “You stayed because I needed you.” She rose and glared at him. “How could you risk yourself like that for me?”

“Because I was sick of running. You can’t imagine what it’s like spending century after century, day after day, alone and constantly looking over your shoulder,” said Jason. “I spent most of my time fighting in the Guard. I never got the chance to have real friends, family, or a life. I never wanted any of it either.”

“What changed?”

“You. When I met you all those centuries ago, I knew you were the one for me and I know you felt something too.”

“I felt it, we were – connected somehow.”

“You wanted the truth, and the truth is I loved you the moment I laid eyes on you. I tried to keep my distance while you were growing up, but when I heard you needed a new partner I had to know you. I couldn’t tell you what I was, because knowing could have put you in just as much danger. Staying for as long as I have has placed you in real jeopardy. I’m so sorry for that and for not telling you. I was afraid of losing you, but now I know I have to let you go.”

Cate felt tears prick her eyes. “Don’t say that.”

“I’ve just explained why we can’t ever be together. I’ll stay until the ascension, but after that I won’t put you at risk anymore.” Jason turned to go.

Her heart was breaking inside with the realisation that he’d kept such an important part of himself from her. “If you love me then stop running away. I may not know what it’s been like for you, but I think you’re afraid of what you are,” she said. “I’m not going to give up because you say so, or because a bunch of Ashrali bastards want you dead. People want me dead too, but I care about you and I’m not going to let you walk away now we finally have a chance to be together.