Enemy Mine (Mending The Veil) (12 page)

She thought her heart could never be filled with love for anyone, but Travis. She was wrong. The babe in her arms was a precious gift. One, she knew she would have to lose, in order to save.

Behind her, Theo stood silently by as creatures big and small came up to get a glimpse of The Glenn’s new addition. Being born only two days earlier, the child was a celebrity. She was the first Witch born in The Glenn for over a hundred of their years, and the only one with demon blood running through her veins. Rissa refrained from pointing out the fact that her father was a Witch, who made the blood oath to become a Guardian. As far as she was concerned, her daughter was all Witch, untainted by Travis’ sin.

“She is a sweet, wee one. You must be so proud.” A sprite flew close to the baby’s face, her voice so high-pitched, Rissa had to lean closer to understand her.

“I am. Thank you.” The sprite dropped a blue and white Forget-Me-Not at her feet. Rissa smiled with gratitude despite the thought that the tiny flower would never be visible in the pile of fragrant flowers and baby gifts at her feet. Each and every one of her visitors had brought the baby something, even the animals.

A sudden hush fell over the crowd and they all moved back a few paces. Rissa watched them bow down, all flying sprites and gnats dropping to the grass. She felt Theo tap her shoulder and turned her head to see the Queen of the Fae walking toward them. A lion walked beside her on each side, both cats carefully kept their heads slightly behind her in a show of respect as they padded along at a leisurely pace. Two Sprites flew behind her, holding the train to her dress above the grass as she walked.

“I hate to interrupt, but I fear Rissalynn might be getting tired.” Urlisa addressed her subjects with a warm smile which did not reach her eyes. She was not pleased to see them in the courtyard, though she’d given Rissa permission to come outside to show the little girl off. Rissa smiled back at her, hoping her nerves didn’t show as she locked gazes with the queen.

“Queen Urlisa, I am so very glad you came out to join us.” The amulet beneath the bodice of her white dress began to heat and grew hotter with each step the queen made toward her. She held her daughter close to her breast as she stood up from the wooden bench to face her approach. She felt Theo move closer to her, a move she recognized as a protective impulse. It helped ease her anxiety and worry. Her friend would give her life for the babe in her arms.

“Rissa, you should come back inside, my dear. You both need to rest.” Urlisa stopped several feet away. The lions grunted and both of them flopped down beside her to pant with long pink tongues hanging out of mouths full of sharp white teeth.

“You are right, of course. It is well past her feeding time. Poor dear must be famished.” The lie rolled off her tongue with unbelievable ease as she looked down at the angelic face of her daughter. She’d fed well right before they left the castle’s halls. There was no fussing, almost as if she knew this would be her last time at her mother’s breast.

Rissa took a fortifying breath as Theo placed a hand on her shoulder. She lifted her head to look out at the crowd. These people had shown them nothing, but respect and offered their friendship. She wondered how they would react to what would happen next, but it didn’t matter. Her mind was made up.

“I want to thank all of you for showing us your kindness. Naming my daughter has been difficult for me.” She swallowed hard. “I wanted her father here to name her, but that isn’t possible.” She lifted the baby up, positioning her to face the crowd of Fae. “I give you Tamlynn Theodora Holt.” Her eyes burned with the threat of tears as the crowd erupted in cheers and loud clapping. She turned toward Theo, who had grabbed the big bag she’d stuffed with necessities and tossed over her head. “Theo, can you take the baby while I gather up some of these wonderful gifts?” Theo’s swimming blue eyes met hers as she took the baby from her. Rissa smiled and blinked back her own tears as she reached up and pulled her amulet over her head and tucked it inside the baby’s blanket. She bent her head and placed a kiss on Tamlynn’s brow.

“Until we meet once more. This will keep you safe from all who wish you harm, my love.” She raised her head and spoke in a whisper. “Keep her safe.” Theo didn’t respond, but she held the baby tight.

“Rissa, really. It is time you return to the castle. Isina bring little Tamlynn.” Urlisa commanded in a tone meant to be followed. Rissa reached into her bodice and clutched the small vial resting between her breasts. Her eyes met Theo’s and they nodded to each other as she whipped it out.

“I love you.” Rissa threw the vial hard as she could at Theo’s bare feet. A loud popping sound preceded a smoking cloud that surrounded Theo and the baby.” The crowd dispersed in pandemonium with people running and animals darting wildly through the crowd.

Sharp nails dug into her upper arm as she was turned to face the angry glare of the queen. “What have you done?”

“I have freed my daughter from your prison, Urlisa.”

“Prison? I have given you everything you could want! And you repay me by way of this treachery?” Her hand arced out, stinging Rissa’s cheek with the impact. “You have broken your promise to me, Witch!” Urlisa’s chest rose and fell violently as she seethed with pure hatred.

“I promised only that I would stay here.”

“Liar! You promised the Familiar would stay here...”

“You are right. I promised my
Familiar
would stay, but I released Theo from her oath before we set foot in The Glenn. She is my friend, not my Familiar.”

Urlisa’s head snapped back, her eyes narrowing as she realized she’d been fooled by a technicality. “Tricky, tricky, tricky little Witch.” She reached out and grabbed Rissa’s chin in a painful hold. Her long nails dug into Rissa’s pale cheeks as she leaned closer to her. “Do you think this is over? That you’ve won? Oh, no. This is far from over, Rissalynn. I will have them back here before the sun goes down.”

“You can try.” Rissa stated defiantly. “They have a couple months on you already.”

“You will pay for this.” She hissed. “Remember your dear husband?”

Rissa took a deep breath, knowing Urlisa would try to use him against her. “He had done nothing to you.”

“Oh, but you have. I put him in an unconscious sleep, but as of this moment he will be aware of everything. If he is ever released from stasis, there won’t be much left of his mind, I promise you that.” Urlisa smiled evilly. Rissa wondered why she ever thought the woman was beautiful. “Take her to the dungeons! I don’t wish to lay eyes on her ever again!” She shoved Rissa’s head away from her and turned to glare at anyone who stayed to watch their exchange. “Get to your homes and stay there!” she screamed at them and started stomping toward the castle.

“Urlisa!” Rissa smiled as the queen turned back around to grin at her.

“Begging will get you nowhere, Witch! I might, however, be persuaded to ease your confinement if you tell me where you sent them in the mortal realm and who among my people aided you.”

“I just wanted to point out that I did not break my promise to you.” Rissa curled her hands into fists as two Fae men flanked her.

“So, you didn’t.”

“No, but you have broken your word to me. You promised me Travis wouldn’t be harmed. Now, I’m released from my promise to you.” The queen’s face blanched, her red lips spread in a hiss as she turned on her heel and screeched in rage. “Bind the Witch! She will never see daylight, again!”

Rissa calmly allowed the men to take her arms, and quietly followed them as they headed for the castle. Heart breaking with the loss of her child, she hung her head as tears began to slowly trail down her cheeks. There was no other choice. Her ally in the castle warned her of the queen’s plan to keep them in The Glenn indefinitely.

Urlisa wanted the Veil to stay open. Blaming the Witches and the Guardians for her decision to leave the mortal world, she wanted to watch as they destroyed each other and took mankind with them. She blamed the humans for taking over and destroying her homeland. Rissa found her diatribe about the importance of mending The Veil rather ironic. The queen had been talking about herself when she warned Rissa of an enemy within The Glenn who wanted to keep the Veil open.

If not for her ally, she would still be ignorant about Urlisa’s plan. As it was, she hadn’t fully believed him until the queen came outside and Travis’ amulet burned in a warning of eminent danger. She knew what she had to do then.

As the men led her down stone steps into the bowels of the castle, one lit a torch to light their way in the pitch black stairway. Rissa lost count of the steps she took down into the dank darkness. She calmed herself with her savior’s final reassurance. He could travel through the Veil at will, meaning he could enter any realm as he wished. He gave her his vow to look after her daughter and Travis in any way he could.

Rissa stood silently as her jailers shut and locked her behind bars in a barren cell. She felt the wards binding her magic and grounding her. She would not be escaping by using her magic. Panic threatened to grip her as she grasped the cold bars and met the gaze of the man holding the torch.

“I’m sorry.” He whispered softly before he turned and followed the other man back up the stairs. She watched the light fade against the dirt walls as they ascended the steps, leaving her all alone in the damp, dark, dungeon.

Sneak Peak of
Veiled Threat

Book II of
Mending the Veil

Tamlynn James hated felling alone and afraid. It was no wonder she couldn’t sleep well, leaving her overactive mind open to dreams she couldn’t forget upon waking.

They were weird dreams of death and fire, with rivers of blood and lifeless floating bodies. Bodies without faces called out to her, begging for her help... Tamlynn found herself turning from the scene of horror to find herself standing before a beautiful shimmering wall. The Veil of Life was a temptation of possibilities and forbidden. One shouldn’t look too closely at the world beyond the Veil, lest they be tempted by what was hidden behind it, for crossing over would be fatal.

In the dreams she was drawn by some invisible urge to do just that. Behind her the world erupted in yells and screams through the dark abyss of night, yet she could see clearly that the other side was in daylight. There was a small town with store fronts and charming little houses lining the two-lane streets. Two children, a boy and a girl in bibbed overalls, were walking a fluffy yellow Labrador puppy down the sidewalk. In their carefree hands were ice cream cones dripping in the heat of the perfect summer day.

The scene was in such contrast to the echoing sounds of chaos behind her that she shook her head at the injustice of it all. A harsh blast of cold wind blew the thin layer of the Veil, sending shimmering colors through it in ripples of reds and blues. When the Veil stilled, the picture before her was of a moonlit night and a clearing with a single woman standing in the middle of a circle made of large gray stones. A fire blazed, sending revealing light over the woman’s soft features. Her eyes caught the flames and flashed blue fire as she turned her blonde head to look straight into Tam’s eyes. Tam jumped and tried to look away from the intense stare. Behind her
he
spoke. His voice was deep and dark, with evil laced through the velvety growls. She did not need to turn around and look at him, for she knew what he was...a demon of the highest order and her sworn enemy. Her fingers curled around the dagger on her hip.

“I am not your enemy. I grow tired of this futile war. No one wins, all suffer, and still the powers continue to have us slaughter one another. There is a better way.”

She was so tired of the battle, too used to the heavy losses of friends and kin. And for what? This wasn’t a war with a clear victor. “A better way? What trap would you have me fall into this time, evil one? Do you think me a fool?”

“A fool? No. A pawn in the war of the gods, yes. As am I. But you have a way out. You can go through the Veil with just a thought, a need...Go, now. The Veil is penetrable on one night of the mortal year. Samhain, the night when the Veil becomes thin enough to cross and survive.”

“You are out of your mind. No one has ever crossed the Veil from this side.”

“Not allowed, does not mean impossible. If you wish to escape this hell, you must make haste. There is not much time, my friend.” A cold hand on her shoulder pushed her toward the Veil, toward the heat of the fire, and the need in the woman’s eyes. Suddenly, it seemed so easy, so simple. Everything she wanted was just beyond the fringe, within reach, waiting for her. She held the idea in her mind, her soul was longing to find a mate, and her need for freedom was too great to abandon. There was no choice to be made; she had already made it. Life was the only choice left, when faced with the alternative of war and death.

She reached out for the Veil, and it was warm, so warm and soft to the touch. Why did she never touch it before? Then the hand on her shoulder burned through her flesh. It shoved her through the Veil with a ripping pain more awful than death itself. The scream echoed in her ears, not her scream, not her voice at all, but a man’s.

Tam pushed the memory of the dream from her mind as she shivered and covered herself up with the thick quilt before turning off the lamp. She couldn’t read tonight; not with fear still making her jumpy. The recurring nightmares began right after the funeral. The trauma of losing her foster mother had clearly messed with her psyche. She was exhausted, yet feared closing her eyes to sleep, and feared dreaming, again. Her flesh crawled with nerves as she tried to relax.

She’d thought moving so far from her home would end the night terrors, but it only made them less frequent, and more vivid, staying with her long after she woke up screaming and in a fevered sweat. Ben would say she needed counseling, and Andrew would call her a baby for letting dreams scare her. Sonja would have let her describe them and try to interpret what the dreams meant.