Taken by Moonlight (63 page)

Cassie
tried to blot out the faces across the portal and Alexander’s look of anguish
as she led Vivienne over to one of the stones. She’d thought he killed her
sister, and had known pain she’d never felt before as she ran to her twin. Her
relief had been palpable. She’d found that Vivienne was only injured, and
healing quickly. But he’d hurt her. He’d promised not to, but he had.

Once
Vivienne was sitting up, she turned to look back to Alexander. He’d stepped
from the pentagram and was now as close as he could stand before the portal. A
small girl, pale with mousy brown hair, was at the front, reaching out a tiny
hand. He knelt and did the same, until it seemed like they were touching.

Something tugged
at her heart. She wanted to trust him, but how could she?

“Help us,
Cassandre.”

Spinning
around, she noticed the same woman she’d seen before. The apparition. The only
difference was that now she appeared real. Instead of a pale, almost luminous
complexion, her skin seemed to exude life. And she was strikingly beautiful.
Tall and lithe, with spirited eyes, and an easy smile.

Vivienne
stared at the woman in confusion as well. Conall rushed over, burying his
muzzle in Vivienne’s lap. Her twin turned away immediately, hugging the wolf
closer, despite the tenderness of her ribs. They remained like that for a few
seconds more before Conall positioned his body before Vivienne, and eyed the
druid.

“Nicolette?”

“Yes,
Cassandre. I told you that you would have to follow your instincts.”

“Every cell
in my body is telling me I shouldn’t trust him…or you.”

The light
in her eyes dimmed briefly, but she replied, “Because you think he betrayed
you?”

“He has.”

“No. In
order to perform a resurrection, there has to be a gathering of powerful
immortals: witches, druids, warlocks. There would have been no way to resurrect
the druids unless the grand wizards helped.”

She looked
over her shoulder at Alexander. Another little girl had stepped forward and
she, too, was reaching for him. The adults seemed to hold back, as if refusing
to get their hopes up.

“Why didn’t
he tell me that?”

 “Would you
have allowed it to happen?”

Cassie
chose not to answer. No.

“How are
you here when all of the druids were banished?”

Nicolette
smiled sadly. “I, too, am banished, but my mother took pity. That is why my
time has been so limited. I cannot remain on earth for more than a few minutes.
It’s different tonight, because we are at a crossroads between banishment and
resurrection. The decision you make will be difficult, and one you must live
with.”

There was
something else on her mind, and as Cassie stared at Alexander, looking quite
defeated before the closing portal, she asked, “Why do you look familiar?”

“Because
you and Vivienne are my descendants, Cassandre.” Cassie looked to the woman at
that revelation, knowing instinctively she told the truth. She was familiar
because she reminded her of her mother. Oh God, where was her mother? “She’s
safe, Cassandre. I’ve removed her to a safer place for the time being.”

“Where?”

“My mother
is caring for her.”

“But your
mother is a goddess?” Selene…House of Selene.
Artemis
.

Nicolette
nodded. “Yes. As I said, she is quite safe at the moment.” The druid returned
her attention to the portal. “Time is running out, Cassandre. Before you know
it, the decision will be made for you. We have waited for you for many
centuries. At least give us the benefit of your decision.”

She gave
her a little smile, turned to Vivienne and Conall, staring from one to the
other for a brief moment, before disappearing.

“What do I
have to do?”

Alexander
thought he was imagining things until he looked up and found Cassandre standing
beside him. Her hair had come undone, and curly ringlets pushed forward into her
face.

“You will
help them?”

She nodded.
In an instant, Alexander popped up and led her back to the pentagram. Once they
were both inside, he said, “Recite the spell, Cassandre. No matter what
happens, recite the spell.”

Cassie
nodded and began the spell, praying she was doing the right thing. Nicolette’s
words, coupled with the sea of faces staring out at her, had made it impossible
for her to turn away. Cassie’s voice grew louder, and she heard Alexander
chanting along with her. A different spell. His voice was joined by another,
and she didn’t need to look to know it was Nicolette. Their voices blended
together, and Cassie closed her eyes, overwhelmed by the need to do so. She
began chanting words she hadn’t learned, lifting her arms above her head, moving
out of the pentagram only to move back in.

Her druid
fell silent, and she opened her eyes to find Alexander standing directly before
her, a dagger held out to her. She looked from his face to the dagger, and
shook her head. Not again. No, she couldn’t. She hadn’t done it to a stranger.
What made him think she’d do it to him?

“No,
Alexander, you will—” Nicolette was silenced by a firm look.

You
must, Cassandre. This is the only way to resurrect them and to keep my word to
you.

Your
word?
He wasn’t making
any sense. She took a step back but he reached out and touched her shoulder.

I gave
you my word that if you helped me, I would do whatever it is you wished. You
wished me to spend eternity in Hell.

He
indicated the dagger.
Please, you must hurry.

“Are you
shitting me?” Cassie burst out, briefly looking over his shoulder to the people
in the distance. “I didn’t mean it literally. You’re kidding, right?”

His brows
drew together.

So you
don’t want me to spend an eternity in Hell?

No! No!
I was angry.

The dagger
in his hand, the golden one with the trident etched into it, disappeared and
another one, a plain black-handled dagger, appeared in its place.

Then use
this.

“I can’t.”

He sighed
and gently gripped both of her shoulders. “If you don’t do this, it all will
have all been for nothing. Without a sacrifice, they will never be able to walk
the earth.”

“What about
Cronin?” Nicolette asked from behind them.

Cassie
lifted a brow.

Alexander’s
mouth hardened and he replied, “He isn’t powerful enough. I suspected he might
try to betray me, so I only allowed him a fraction of his power when I broke
the curse.” He focused on Cassie once more. “Do it, Cassandre. Only you can do
it.”

Reaching
down, he took her hand and pressed the hilt of the blade against her palm. His
fingers traced it lightly before he blew out a breath, and nodded. “I’m ready.”

Her hand
trembled. She shook her head.

“I won’t
die, Cassandre. This has happened before. I’ll come back.”

“Do it,
Cassandre. You must hurry,” Nicolette said urgently from behind her.

“Please
don’t die,” she whispered fiercely, and he gave her a quick nod and a smile.

Alexander
held out his wrists, and she sliced them, wincing even though he didn’t so much
as flinch. She looked to his neck and shuddered. Wrists were one thing, but she
really couldn’t do—that. As if sensing her refusal, he reached down with a
bloodied hand and took hers, lifting it to his neck, his pale eyes never
leaving hers.

He brought
the blade against his throat, and Cassie kept her focus on his eyes. His hand
moved hers rapidly, and his mouth opened on a brief gasp. Her attention went to
his lips as he breathed out, “Keep chanting.”

Alexander
stumbled and Cassie reached forward, gently lowering him to the ground. Thunder
roared in the distance and lightning flashed across the sky. Though it wasn’t
possible, Cassie swore she heard the sound of crashing waves.

“Chant,” he
whispered, and it took great effort not to focus on the blood that seemed to be
everywhere.

Tears
sprang to her eyes but she did as he asked. The wind picked up and the sky
burst open, pelting them with cold, almost punishing rain. She chanted until
the words died away, until her voice felt close to gone, until she could do so
no more. All was silent. The rain had stopped. Slowly, she blinked. The haze
had fallen away, and the druids huddled silently against each other, clothing
wet and eyes wide, as if afraid to speak.

Nicolette
moved from behind her, and she watched as the druid strode over to where those
of her race stood. She walked with her arms outstretched, and once contact was
made, noise erupted. Cries of jubilation went up as families and friends
embraced one another. Nicolette was swept into the midst and lost among them.

Cassie
smiled briefly, and looked down to where Alexander’s head lay against her leg.
His eyes were open, but sightless. A slight smile played over his lips. Gently,
she ran a hand down his face, the only part of his body that wasn’t covered in
blood, closing his eyes, and brushing damp locks of blond hair away. She
clutched his lifeless body closer to hers.

He’d risen
once before. He would do so again. He had to.

He awoke
disconcerted. Shaking his head to clear the cobwebs, he pushed himself to his
feet. As his eyes adjusted to the dark, orangey glow around him, he wondered
where he was, how he’d come to be there. Immediately, his memories flooded
back, and he remembered Max—his own
son
—and Nicolette.

“So you
finally awaken?”

Maximilian
Cronin spun in the direction of the deep, masculine voice, but found no one. He
blinked rapidly and drew in a deep breath, gagging when the smell of sulfur
invaded his nostrils and settled in his lungs.

“Who are
you and where am I?” he demanded with false bravado. Nicolette had promised him
painful retribution when he’d ordered Annabel branded traitor for taking up
with the werewolf.

“Some call
me the devil, or Satan, but I despise those names, so I will give you the one
by which you will address me for the rest of your rather long life.
Master.
Lord and Master.”

Spinning
once more, he attempted to find the person who’d spoken. Despite his fear, he
was reassured by the surge of his powers beneath his fingertips. As long as he
was not dead, he still had a chance…. “Show yourself. Or are you afraid of what
I will do to you?”

Laughter
greeted those words, and Maximilian swallowed at the depravity he heard in it.

“I fear no
mortal, nor immortal, yet they all fear me.” The voice was amused.

“If you
don’t fear me, prove it and show yourself!”

A tall,
cloaked figure appeared a few feet from him, and Maximilian took steps away.

“Why do you
back away, Grand Wizard?” he taunted. “I am over here.”

“What is
this place?”

“Tartarus.
Your new home.”

Tartarus?
If this was Tartarus, then he was…. It couldn’t be. No. It couldn’t.

He
continued to back away. “Why am I here? Am I dead?”

The cloaked
figure chose that moment to laugh, a deep rumbling sound that was as
frightening as anything Maximilian had ever heard before.

“You will
never
die,” he finally said, pushing back the dark hood of the cloak around his head.
Maximilian did not know what he’d expected but he hadn’t expected a man who
looked almost model-esque to be under there. He was deeply tanned, with
raven-black hair, black brows, and even blacker eyes. White teeth gleamed out
at him from the man’s smile. “But you will wish for it daily.”

Deciding
he’d had enough banter, Maximilian raised his hands and prepared to launch an
attack. One moment the man was feet away, and then next, he was before him, a
hand wrapped about one of his. He applied pressure, and Maximilian screamed,
feeling a few of his bones give way. He fell to his knees before the figure in
black, attempting again and then failing to put up any sort of fight.

“This is
where you belong from now. On your knees. Do you understand?”

When he did
not answer, the man caught him by the throat and lifted him off the ground.
Maximilian used his unbroken hand to try to pry the fingers away but they did
not move. They only tightened.

He felt as
if at any moment he would pass out from lack of air. He nodded his submission.

“You will
call me Lord and Master.”

“Yes…Lord…and…Master.”

Released,
he wheezed and struggled to put distance between them. When he was satisfied,
he cradled his damaged hand in his lap.