Underworld Queen (33 page)

“Absolutely.”

Clutching his hand, weaving her fingers between his, she was able to steadily descend the stairs to the little enclave of men. Josh was up in an instant to assist her to one of the red leather chairs by the fireplace, then took his place beside Judy on the loveseat. Jonas began.

“We’ve pieced together some facts that I hope bring us to a plan of some sorts. Josh and I believe Catarina will come here now, once she learns of Audray’s escape, and,” he cleared his throat, “Rupert’s defection.”

Audray saw Rupert flinch, close his eyes slowly and rub them.

The familiar chill of fear traveled up her back and made her shudder. “Go on.”

“It seems my relatives have been scheming for centuries to gain power and control over many parts of the modern Western world. They stumbled upon information that led them to the conclusion I had survived and was alive in the Underworld. They sent spies and gathered information and one by one, converted themselves to dark angels, through invitation, through mass turnings.”

“Call it for what it is, man. Mass suicides.” Josh’s voice was all business. “For the record, this was never the way.”

“Their desire for domination over not only the Underworld, but the human world as well, has blinded them. It no longer is a family destiny. It is an addiction to power. The upper ranks of this family are in fact, warring against themselves, eliminating themselves, which is a good thing.” Jonas glanced over at Rupert, who nodded his agreement. “Thus, no one is safe. Catarina wants dominion, obedience, and total submission by as many souls, dark or human, as she can possibly claim. She is fierce and doesn’t think she can be stopped.”

Audray looked around the room at the warriors sitting in front of her. The only person who would not return her gaze was redheaded Judy, who continued staring at her hands folded in her lap as she leaned into Josh.

Jonas continued, “She’s made some allies here and she’s counting on cooperation I’m not so sure she’ll get. We may have a friend.”

“Who, Jonas?” Audray asked.

“Glenda.”

“The witch?”

“Yes, I spoke with her today.”

Rupert spoke up. “When Catarina found out you were pregnant, her plans changed. She is totally focused on that baby, and you are that delivery vehicle until the child is far enough along. After that, she won’t give a hoot what happens to you. She’ll have the child.” His eyes were sad. “It’s her plan. I’ve heard it with my own ears.”

Audray’s veins felt cold, and she shivered again. Judy brought her a crocheted throw.

This last bit was difficult to swallow, knowing that the child she wanted so desperately to hold in her arms was going to be used as a pawn in an evil game of world domination. The dominions and needs of the greedy were not her concern. She would not allow her child to be used for anyone else’s evil ends.

Even if she had to pay the ultimate sacrifice. She and Jonas shared a look she never wanted to have again. If they lost this battle, they would all go together.

C
arl rapped on
the heavy oak door of Drucilla’s cottage. A tall, shirtless body builder-type man, answered the door. The man’s hair was held back in a ponytail. He wore a red bandana around his neck.

“I need to talk to Drucilla.”

He broke a wide smile, “Sorry pardner, she’s gone. Visiting. Returns tonight. She didn’t inform me there would be visitors. Who should I tell her called?”

He looked out into the clearing to see if anyone else had accompanied Carl.

“This isn’t a social call,” Carl began. “It’s an emergency. Surely there’s a way to reach her. It is a matter of life or death. Her granddaughter is in grave danger.”

Carl was worried about Molly. He hadn’t had any thoughts from her since he’d left the library. He told himself over and over again it didn’t mean anything, that she was fine. Told himself perhaps the sealed room was the reason. Perhaps it worked like a media jamming frequency.

He flashed on a clear blue sky, the beach and the ocean – some of his favorite places, as if these images had been forced upon him. Just then, from the clearing of low shrubbery and forest, Drucilla emerged, carrying a red cape and basket, just like the Little Red Riding Hood story his mother used to read to him when he was young. Though she was clearly in her sixties or seventies, her angelic face belied an inner glow and cast a glamour, making him react to her as if she were a much younger woman. She had the same powers of mind over matter Molly did, but more intense.

“You look like an orphan at a witches’ festival.” She giggled like a little girl. “And for the record, I kept the calming thoughts clean. I can see Molly has intentions with you I’m not going to begin to delve into.
But I could!
So just be forewarned.”

“I’ve only experienced this with Molly. I didn’t know that—”

“Hogwash! Glenda used those powers too. It’s just that with Molly you are in love with her, and Glenda scares the frogs out of you.”

“That’s an understatement.”

“And most people don’t know it, but they’ve come under the spells of witches during their lifetime. Ever bought too much at the store, especially when you had little or no money? Wanted something you’d given up for years and then suddenly craved? Here you thought it was your weak body doing this.” She leaned in close enough Carl thought she might kiss him. “Witches. Having their way with you and laughing when you’re gone.”

Carl reflexively stepped back. “Molly needs you. We don’t have much time, I fear.”

“Yes, I got some confusing messages. I’m going inside to set this down, and then we’ll leave. You know the way?”

“Just came from there,” Carl said.

Drucilla walked through the door without opening it.

Carl was getting nervous, fisting and unfisting his hands, trying to catch his breath. He felt like he had to pee and vomit at the same time, and that wasn’t a good thing.

She exited the door by opening it. Carl led her toward his vehicle, but Drucilla stopped him.

“I thought you said we didn’t have much time.”

“That’s right.”

She placed her arm around him and bowed her head. “Keep your eyes closed no matter what, until I say to open them. Pay no attention to the smells or sounds, just stay with me here, okay?”

Carl mumbled something. Before he could fully close his eyes he saw they had ascended to the sky several thousand feet. He immediately squeezed his eyes shut and thought he had passed out into a vivid dream. One of the many images he found was the seated form of Molly, waiting, in the corner of a room. As he saw her, she looked up and smiled.

A
udray and Jonas
were sharing a few stolen moments, holding hands, and whispering alone. The guards had hidden themselves around the yard and down the street to form a perimeter of protection. Jonas explained their dark angel bodies would be able to detect any would-be intruder. He told her to expect minions, perhaps.

“Nothing subtle about Catarina. She has the fire and hatred her distant ancestor had. And now we have the fact that her husband, if he could be called that, has turned on her. She’ll be blinded with rage.”

Audray knew this to be true. “Except one thing isn’t quite in her favor.”

“What’s that, my love,” Jonas asked, kissing her softly on the lips, his dark eyes drinking in the sight of her. How she wanted to get lost in them forever.

“You’ve been a dark angel for three hundred years. Josh had been one. These guards, I’m guessing you don’t have many that are recently turned.”

“There’s Rupert—”

“Who is not one of your trained guards. Even Peter had more training than he has. His proximity to Catarina only makes him a liability to her and a great asset to us. He doesn’t have to fight. He has secrets.”

Jonas leaned forward and kissed her ear. “And I have so much I want to say to you right now, it would distract us for a hundred years.”

The familiar glamour of his breath was an elixir that made her feel strong and pure of spirit. Her love for this dark angel, who had been waiting his whole life to meet just her, was giving her courage. And for the first time, hope.

He read her mind and nodded.
Yes, love does that. Even with dark angels, love does that. Or so I’ve been told.

She was sad for all the lonely years he had waited with no purpose in life except running away, staying to the shadows, and what a cost that had been to him and his soul.

All worth it, love. All worth the waiting. Time is irrelevant when you live forever.

“What happens, Jonas, if I’m turned human, and you remain immortal?”

He looked to the side of the house as a car drove up the driveway. “We’ll wing it, love. I have no idea.”

Rupert and Josh had been having a quiet conversation in the kitchen and beat them to the rear door at the porch.

Audray watched through the screen, her fingers on the metal netting, as she saw a young couple emerge. The girl was carrying an infant.

Claire!

Jonas was quick to grab Josh’s arm. “What’s this? Need you increase the stakes, bring someone else she cares about into this little circle of death?”

“Jonas. You don’t know Claire very well. But if you did, you would understand I would spend the rest of my human life miserable if I didn’t give her the opportunity to see Audray. As her sister, not her enemy.”

Audray was out the rear door before any of them could grab her arm. She ran to Claire with arms outstretched, impacting the fresh-scented former Guardian angel and the pink bundle she was carrying with a bear hug. She heard Jonas swear behind her. “I couldn’t believe it when I found this out, Claire.” She withdrew to look down at the baby, and felt Claire’s loving eyes on her. “I am so truly sorry I nearly ruined your life. I ruined your angel life.” At last she examined Claire’s face. “He told you?”

“Yes, that’s why we’re here.” Claire’s blue eyes radiated love. “It was welcome news.”

Claire’s hair was like golden straw, just as Audray had remembered it. The flood of memories doing things she was ashamed of came back, and she found it impossible not to cry.

“And as for ruining or almost ruining my life—on the contrary, Audray. You
gave
me my human life. You gave me this. Daniel. I would have never found him if it wasn’t for your part in this. Don’t you see? There are no accidents.”

Claire’s pure blue eyes watered, but Audray saw the strength of this former Guardian. Daniel stepped next to his wife and addressed Audray.

“Thank you. We thank you for this gift of today. We want to help all we can.” He leaned forward and graced Audray’s cheek with a tender kiss.

“And this is little Alondra. It means ‘savior of mankind,’” Claire whispered.

The beautiful pink baby was rosy cheeked, but had her father’s dark complexion and brown eyes. Her clear eyes studied Audray as if recognizing her.

“She’s beautiful,” was all Audray could say.

“Born on Christmas, can you believe it?” Claire smiled. “My little Christmas baby,” she said as she kissed Alondra on the forehead. “And now you will have one of your own.” Claire reached out and touched her stomach. Blessings to you, Audray.”

Jonas was at their backside and barking orders, breaking up the reunion. “I’m not happy about this. Now we have three more humans to defend and a whole lot more to lose. I’m not sure this was smart, but this is the hand we’ve been dealt.”

“Yes, we must get inside,” Daniel said. Wrapping an arm around Claire, they made their way up the steps to the kitchen. Audray walked behind them. She turned to Jonas.

“What’s the plan?”

“Get ready for the onslaught. It could be a few, it could be thousands. I have no clue.”

“She’ll send the expendables first,” Rupert blurted out. “Then she’ll send her best. And when it’s safe, or she thinks she’s safe, she’ll come.”

“That’s a strategy I’m familiar with. Old thinking.”

“Usually effective,” Josh said.

Claire turned around and drilled Josh a look no one would be able to misinterpret. “No more negative talk. We win this fight. And the next one and the next one if there is one. We fight until they are all destroyed.”