Shadow Magic (15 page)

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Authors: Cheyenne McCray

BOOK: Shadow Magic
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“What's going on?” She shook out of his embrace and his hands fell to his sides. He missed her warmth at once, missed touching her softness and having her head resting against his chest.
He pushed his hand through his hair. His skin tones had returned to the bluish-gray of the Drow and his hair was silvery-blue again. Apparently his skin and hair only changed to its former tones during daylight hours.
A foghorn sounded in the night as a great ship passed in front of them, temporarily obscuring the island from his gaze. Great swells of water rolled from the ship toward the shore, the waves slapping sand and pebbles beneath the pier.
“I cannot explain why, but I must go to the Fomorii lair now.” He brushed his knuckles across her cheek. “I do not want to put you in danger.”
“You're insane.” She brought her hand up to the moon and crescent armband she always wore. It was the only nervous movement he had noticed she made on occasion. “I can't let you do that.”
“You cannot stop me.” He almost smiled when her fingertips crackled with her sparkling green magic. He had seen two of the witches use their powers when the door to Underworld was opened then closed, and he knew the witches could be quite formidable.
“Do you want to bet I can't stop—” she started when he released his magic.
Hannah gasped as he surrounded them in a dark sphere, a
geodess,
weaving a spell into the fabric of power. He laced within it a command to take them to Alcatraz, and then a spell to return them to the shores of San Francisco. The Great Guardian had said he would be weak after he used the magical gift, and he wanted to make sure he had a way to bring Hannah and himself back safely. If he could leave her in a bubble of protection on the pier while he was gone, he
would, but his power would not extend so far, and still retain enough magic for the return trip.
With a mental command the
geodess
rose and Hannah dropped onto her backside with the movement. She let out a sound of surprise. He used his powers to guide the sphere onto the water where it bobbed in the wake created by the ship that had passed by.
Concern and perhaps fear crossed her features as she got to her haunches on the curved floor of the sphere that was firm beneath his feet. He knelt beside her. She looked away from him and pressed her palm against the side of the
geodess
. His magic rippled beneath her hand and she shivered before cutting her gaze back to him.
“We are in what my people refer to as a
geodess,
” he said as he met her eyes. “It will take us safely to our destination and return us to our origin when the mission is complete.”
The dark sphere began to float toward the island as he pushed it with his magic. He took Hannah's hand in his and this time her muscles didn't tighten. Instead she sat by him in silence for a few moments before squeezing his hand in return.
“Mission …” she said in a concerned tone. “What could the two of us possibly do”—she gestured toward the island—“against all of those demons?”
“Trust me.” It was all he could say as he studied her features in the darkness.
“Guess I don't have a choice.” She shivered and he drew her into his embrace, surrounding both of them with heat.
The
geodess
continued to skim the water as it made its way to the island.
When he sensed the island was near, he murmured, “We have arrived,” and her body tensed.
“You're really going to go through with this—whatever it is you're planning to do.” She scooted away from him and he let her, even though he didn't want to.
Garran looked through the dark sphere as they approached a sheer rock side of the island.
He looked from the island back to her. “This is something I must do. Something that will benefit all.”
Hannah grasped her belly with her arm for a moment as if it hurt. Then she dropped her hands to her sides, straightened her spine, and pushed back her shoulders, like a warrior ready to do battle. “You're the boss. Let's do it.”
Garran focused on the rocks, using his senses with the might of his dark magic to reach out and find the opening to the cavern that would lead to the Fomorii lair. When his slow exploration did not reveal anything, he strengthened his search. At his mental command a dark layer of power burst from him, through the sphere, and wrapped itself around the island.
Immediately he located the opening to the cavern—and the Fomorii guards posted around it.
He would have to eliminate the demon guards without alerting the rest of the Fomorii. He had expected that, but had also hoped the demons would be too cocksure of themselves to believe they needed a guard.
Hannah sat on her haunches at his side, her palms braced on her thighs. “I don't see anything. It's so blessed dark.”
With his Drow vision, Garran could see every rock, every pebble as they drew closer—as well as the Fomorii guards. Not to mention their rotten-fish stench was so powerful one could not miss them. He guided the sphere close to the rock face so that he would not be seen once he left its safety. He intended to leave Hannah in the
geodess
.
He studied the opening to the cavern. It was low to the water, a lip jutting from it that would allow him to climb in and out. The overhang hid the opening effectively. He would have to lower himself from the overhang to the shelf.
Black power surrounded the opening. No doubt Ceithlenn had created the cavern with her magic.
“Four of the demons are guarding the entrance.” He rubbed his jaw. “I need to do away with them before I enter the cavern.” He looked down at her. “I will leave you here, where you will be safe.”
“Like hell.” Green magic sparked at her fingertips. “Where you go, I go.”
If he had the extra power he would need to do it, he would bind her inside the
geodess
until he finished his task. As it was, he was using most of his dark magic to maintain the sphere itself. No matter the outcome—if he died—the
geodess
was spelled to return to the pier they had left from. Hannah would be able to move in and out of it at will.
He took her by the shoulders and looked into her dark eyes. “If anything should happen to me, return to this
geodess
and it will take you to your city.” He gave her a slight shake. “You
will
do as I command.”
Fire snapped in her gaze and she narrowed her brows. She shrugged out of his hold and pushed him away by placing her hands on his chest and shoving. “I'll do whatever
I
think is best. Not what you tell me to do.”
He stared at her a long moment before glancing to the steep rock near the entrance, then back to her. What would he do with this stubborn woman?
The only thing he could. Keep her at his side. For now. “Remember that all you need to do is climb onto the
geodess
and it will embrace you and take you home.”
Hannah didn't answer. Instead she raised her hand and a soft green glow emanated from her palm, giving her enough light to analyze the rock face.
“Your sister witches used magic ropes in the battle at the door to Underworld.” Garran remembered how the witches had utilized the ropes as well as a net and shields. “Is this one of your talents as well?”
“Not a problem.” She stood, the sphere steady beneath her feet. “I have plenty of talents.”
“Good. You will need your ropes to climb down the rock face and return to the
geodess
.” The memory of the brightness of the witch magic he'd seen came to him. “Is it possible for you to dim your magic so that it cannot easily be seen?”
Hannah nodded, still not looking at him. “How do I get out of here?”
“Hold on to me.” Garran shot out a dark stream of magic at the same time he grasped Hannah by her waist. The stream wrapped itself around a large boulder far overhead and he gave the mental order for his magic to pull them up the sheer side of the island.
She gripped him tight with one arm while she held her other palm out, magic sparking at her fingertips, obviously ready to use her powers.
They pushed through the wall of the
geodess,
which felt like passing grasping hands trying to hold them in. He ordered the magic to still and remain in place as he left a piece of his powers behind.
Rough winds batted them against the side of the rocky wall as they rose and small stones trickled down to the water, the tiny sounds loud in the still night. He didn't pause and they continued to rise. The icy winds whipped their hair about their faces and he again used his magic to chase away the chill.
Just as they came close to reaching the surface they would climb onto, the demon stench grew stronger.
A Fomorii appeared.
It looked directly at them.
The demon opened its mouth as if to give warning to its fellow Fomorii.
Hannah shot a sparkling green magic rope out so fast Garran barely saw it skim through the air.
The rope spun around the demon's head and mouth, choking off any cry it would have made.
The rope continued to wrap itself around the Fomorii's entire body, and the demon dropped. It would have made a thud, but another burst of power emanated from Hannah that cushioned the demon's fall so that there was only silence.
“You are truly a talented witch,” Garran said in a low voice as he pulled them close enough that they could crawl onto the rocky ground.
She grunted as he helped push her up far enough that she was able to roll onto the ground. “I told you not to underestimate me,” she whispered.
“Indeed.” His muscles strained as he grasped the rock to pull himself all the way up. The words of the Great Guardian came to him again—that he and Hannah would be stronger together. It seemed the Guardian had been correct.
Still, he did not like putting Hannah in such danger.
When they were both on their feet, they looked down at the demon bound by her magic. “Goddess, that thing stinks.” She gestured toward it with an expression of distaste. “Be my guest.”
Garran unsheathed the long dagger at his side. The demon's eyes bulged, but it was so tightly bound that it could not move a fraction.
As he did not have his sword to slice the demon's head from its body, Garran chose the only other way to kill a Fomorii. The dagger slipped between the magic ropes and it took only a swift movement to remove the Fomorii's black heart.
Garran flipped the heart aside with his dagger. The heart made a squishing sound as it hit the rocks before it turned to silt. The demon's body also collapsed into the fine, dark substance that blew away on the harsh winds. Hannah drew her magic back inside her. Garran kept his dagger unsheathed.
“I can subdue two at once now that both of my hands are free,” she said, and he acknowledged her with a nod.
Hannah followed as he moved through the near darkness toward the three remaining Fomorii guards. Lights from around the former prison gave enough light so that Hannah could no doubt see well enough. He hoped she would be able to keep from making any noise and not stir any rocks as they crept forward.
The Fomorii rotten-fish malodor grew so great it was near to overpowering. It came not only from the demons guarding the entrance, but from the cavern hidden below the island.
He glanced at Hannah, whose nose wrinkled as if she was trying to avoid sucking in too much of the foul air. She had both hands raised, prepared to release her magic ropes.
When the three demons came into view, Garran's eyes met Hannah's and he gave a clipped nod.
They looked forward, and as one released their magic.
Two of the demons dropped silently to the ground as one of Hannah's ropes completely subdued one Fomorii, and Garran's power wrapped itself around the other.
But Hannah's rope missed the third demon's mouth.
Its roar shattered the night air and Garran's scalp prickled as he cursed.
“Bless it,” Hannah said in a hoarse whisper as she dropped the third demon and gagged it with her magic. Garran quickly cut out the hearts of the three demon guards.
But it was too late.
Other Fomorii had heard the lone guard's fierce growl.
Answering roars came from the cavern below.
GARRAN'S MUSCLES TENSED AND his gut churned. Godsdamn. Now he must face the beasts head-on, rather than making the stealthy entrance he had intended.
“Stay,” he commanded Hannah, and flung up a black barrier of magic that she would not be able to pass through.
“Bastard!” Her voice was muted as she thumped her fists on the shadow shield, an expression of fury on her features.
It was close enough that he would be able to maintain the shield with his magic and still have enough to do what he had to.
Without pause, he rushed toward the roars, hooked a stream of dark magic around a pair of boulders. He held on to it with one hand, his dagger in his other, and flung himself down from the barrier into the cavern.
As he swung into the entrance, he slammed his booted feet into the first demon, sending the beast flying. A second Fomorii roared and reached for Garran, but he dug the demon's heart out with a quick twist of his blade. Another came at Garran from behind, and he whirled, slicing the demon across the throat, but his dagger was not long enough to behead it. The demon healed almost at once and lunged for Garran.
At the same time he battled, he analyzed the cavern. To his right were rocks he could climb, a series of rocks that led to a shelf.
Garran cut the heart from another Fomorii, turning the beast into silt. He stepped back toward the rocks, still facing the oncoming demons. The damned beasts had tipped their claws in iron, as he'd been told, and iron was deadly to Fae and Elves. One slice of their claws could render him helpless—or kill him.
Determination roared through his veins as he threw up a shadow shield between himself and the oncoming demons. The two shields he had created, and the large amount of magic he'd left behind to maintain the sphere, had stretched his powers thin.
He scrambled up the rocks, dagger in one hand as his other grabbed for purchase. His breathing was heavy and his heart raced. It was all he could do to hold the wall up between Hannah and the entrance to the cavern, and the one between himself and the Fomorii.
Below, demons growled and screeched so loudly the cavern echoed with it. The Fomorii were hideous—some orange, others green, purple, red, or blue. They had multiple limbs and eyes, and their claws all glinted from the iron they had been tipped in.
Some of the demons tried to climb the rock wall to reach Garran, but he pushed forward, his target the shelf above the floor of the cavern. The closer he got to it, the deeper the sense of evil he felt. No doubt Ceithlenn. He hoped to the gods she was here so that he could send her back with the Fomorii—if she didn't kill him first.
Rocks bit into his palms as he pulled himself upward and then forward, driving himself toward his destination. Shrieks from the demons nearly deafened him and his nose clogged and eyes watered from the rotten-fish stench. Just as he tumbled onto the ledge, his power holding the shields in place snapped.
Garran fell, his face hitting the stone shelf.
So much for Elvin grace,
was the fleeting thought that slipped through his mind.
While the Fomorii rushed him from the left and other
demons attempted to climb from below, Garran pushed himself to his feet. He stretched his body to his full height. The dagger clattered to the rock shelf when he dropped it.
At the same time he was all too aware of everything going on around him, and of the demons nearing him.
He closed his eyes and blocked everything out. He dug deep inside his soul for the magic the Guardian had given him.
It was there, swirling, waiting to break free.
Garran thrust his chest out, expanded his arms, saw every Fomorii in the cavern with his mind's eye.
Power burst from him. So intense, so hot, he thought he might burn away.
He opened his eyes as his body shook with magic to see the cavern bathed in silver light. It glittered, bounced off every surface in the cavern, almost blindingly so.
With all his might he focused on sending the Fomorii back to Underworld.
Pain shot through his head. His body.
He put more force into the power of his gift.
The demons vanished.
The cavern was empty.
Complete silence.
Exhaustion and pain slammed into Garran and he crumpled to the rock shelf.
THE SHIELD HOLDING HANNAH dissolved as she banged on it. Off balance, she stumbled forward and dropped on one knee on the hard rock. Pain shot through her knee.
She scrambled to her feet and headed toward the roars.
Oh, goddess. What am I doing? What is Garran doing?
Was it a good sign that the beasts still roared in the cavern below? That Garran still survived?
The strength of her fear for Garran burned in her chest. Anger, too, that he had done this—but she would deal with that later. Providing he survived whatever crazy plan he'd
had in his mind when he brought them here. She'd kill him herself if they made it out of here alive.
Hannah ran toward the boulder where Garran had used his magic to climb down. She tripped over a rock but kept herself from falling by bracing her hands on the boulder.
A plan formed in her mind.
Her heart pounded so loud her ears throbbed, but the roars and shrieks of the demons still cut through. The Fomorii stench was overwhelming and she wanted to clap her hand over her nose.
Instead, she whipped a thick rope of magic from her palm and wrapped it around the boulders. When she slid down the rope she would be prepared to throw up a spellshield to protect herself and Garran. If she had to, she'd use spellfire to knock the demons out of her way so that she could reach Garran.
How they would get out alive, she wasn't sure, but she could protect them, and fight if necessary.
Heart still pounding like crazy, she readied herself on the overhang. She gripped the magic rope in both fists.
Sudden silence filled her ears as she swung down.
Shock coursed through her as she landed on the lip of the cavern entrance. She clung to the rope, unable to pry her fingers from it as she stared into the enormous space.
No demons. Nothing.
At her feet were a few piles of silt from demons that had been killed, but in the cavern—
nothing
.
No more roars or screeches, or the horrid odor of the Fomorii—only a little bit of it lingered. All she heard were waves rolling up to the far end of the lip that extended out toward the water.
Garran. Where's Garran?
Her throat grew dry and knots twisted her stomach as she searched the cavern with her gaze. The Fomorii had vanished. Had Garran, too?
Hannah's own breath nearly strangled her when she saw
Garran's body on a rock shelf. He'd collapsed on his side and wasn't moving.
She looked at the rocks between her and Garran. There was a good climb between the two of them, but she pushed herself forward and scrambled up the rocks. Their sharpness bit into her palms, and shards of pain splintered through her every time one of her knees hit the jagged stone.
Her breathing grew harsher as she made her way toward Garran. His bluish-gray complexion looked pale and his eyes were closed. He was lying on his side, his features slack.
She climbed over the last rock and hurried to Garran's side. She dropped to her haunches next to him. Her hands trembled as she raised them over his body and sent her healing magic from her palms to Garran's body.
At once she felt his lifeforce. It was strong, his heart beating a steady rhythm. Relief flowed through her like a warm wave.
Through her magic she felt that his powers had been drained. Something more was there, too, but she couldn't tell what it was. She sent strong healing energy from her body, through her hands, and into his prone form. Her green magic sparkled between them and he stirred.
Even as more relief poured through her like wine warming her belly, she continued to heal him as best she could. Cassia would know what to do once Hannah managed to get Garran to her.
She glanced at the rocky path she'd taken to get to him and wondered how in Anu's name she was going to get Garran to the sphere.
His hand suddenly clasped around her wrist, startling her and bringing her attention to him. His eyes were open and for a moment she stared into their liquid silver depths.
Hannah's first instinct was to kiss him, her second to slap him for putting himself in so much danger.
But where had the danger gone?
The healing magic she'd been using faded back into her
body. She glared at him and braced her hands on her hips as she rested on her haunches. “Idiot.”
He smiled, the same sexy, cocky smile that told her he was going to be okay.
“You could have been killed by all those …” She slowly swept her gaze over the cavern. “Demons,” she finished, not really knowing what else to say.
Had the cavern already been empty? Were just a few here that Garran had fought with hand to hand?
But why was he lying on this rock shelf, passed out?
What had happened?
Garran pushed himself to a sitting position and braced himself on the rock shelf with one hand. “They are gone.”
“How many? And how?” She wrinkled her brow and looked around the cavern again, feeling as if a Fomorii might just pop up out of nowhere. “I don't understand.”
Garran said nothing as he got to his knees and then to his feet. He wavered, as if he were tipsy, and she hurried to her feet, afraid he might fall off the edge of the rock shelf.
She wrapped her arm around his waist. “Lean on me.”
“I am fine.” He took a step forward and staggered a little, almost making her fall with him. “I
will
be fine,” he amended with a smile at her.
“With you injured, how are we supposed to get out of here?” She moved with him as he took a step forward. “I don't suppose you can create one of those floaty balls, or order the one you left behind to come and get us.”
“My powers have lessened.” He took another step toward the rock they would need to climb on. “From this distance I don't have the strength to bring the
geodess
to us.”
She released him as he reached the rock and he started to climb. His biceps bulged as his arms trembled with the effort, the muscles in his back flexing beneath his T-shirt.
What had this great Elvin warrior done to be so weak?
“Was Ceithlenn here?” Hannah followed as he made slow progress along the rocks that led back to the entrance. “Did she make all the Fomorii disappear?”
“She was not here.” Garran's boot slipped on a rock as he crept forward. “I fear she is still in your city.”
Hannah's gut twisted at the mention of Ceithlenn still in San Francisco. “If she didn't do this … what happened?”
“I do not have the strength for speech.” His voice did sound weak as he moved on.
Hannah clamped her lips shut. This entire thing had been crazy, from the moment they left the pier until now. In some unbelievable way, Garran had something to do with the disappearance of the demons. She just didn't know how.
Unless they hadn't been there to begin with? Her skin went cold. Did that mean more demons were in the city than they'd thought?
Their progress was agonizingly slow and Hannah's stomach constantly churned, as if Ceithlenn might appear. Hannah wasn't sure she could shield herself and Garran against an onslaught of the dark goddess's magical powers or her ability to suck up souls. Hannah flinched at the thought of what the goddess had done to all those people at the stadium and acid rose up in her throat.
To keep their souls—the D'Danann, D'Anu, and PSF officers—from being taken by the goddess, the Great Guardian had created an elixir from an Amarant, an exceedingly powerful, magical precursor of the everlasting, never-fading amaranth they knew here. The Guardian had provided a flagon that contained a magical potion made from the rare Amarant that bloomed only in Otherworld. Unfortunately there wasn't enough to put in the city's water supply to save everyone in San Francisco.
As far as Hannah knew, she was still protected from losing her soul. She studied Garran as he moved ahead of her. He wasn't safe from that fate since he hadn't been around when they'd taken the elixir. When they got back—and they
would
get back—she'd have to see if Cassia had more in that flagon.
Blessed Anu, it seemed to take forever and a week to reach the lip of the cave's entrance but they finally did. Garran
sat for a moment on the last rock he had stepped on. Hannah settled beside him and noticed his skin was slick with a sheen of sweat and his chest rose and fell with each harsh breath. He still looked pale—more so than he did when he was in the daylight and his skin and hair color changed.

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