Playing with Magic (Elemental Trilogy Book 2) (4 page)

“To make sure you do not get close to the Elements.”

Moorgun got to her feet. “Your head witch put you in a lot of danger, and you are no closer to what you were sent to do.” She laughed. “My Lord has already dealt with getting closer to the witches. He has sent a Hound of the Hill, or whatever they are called now, and he is at home with the witches now.”

Bryce removed the necklace from Peardon’s eyes, and he blinked the confusion from them. “A Hound of the Hunt?”

She nodded. “Yes. The witches will be ours. What a shame you will never be able to tell anyone about it.” She turned to Bryce and Neva. “Leave. I need to wake properly.”

They left without speaking, and she went back to her box, taking the myrtle bottle Neva left on the bed. She brought out moon water and poured it into her special stirring bowl. Four parts rosemary, two parts rose petals, one part anise, one part fern, and one part myrtle she told herself as she used her wooden spoon to mix up the potion. She dipped her hands into it greedily and brought a handful of the mixture to her face.

She shrieked at the sudden burning sensation that ate into her thin facial skin. Peardon laughed raucously. “At least I will know that I hurt you before I die!”

****

Stefan woke up, breathing hard. He had dreamt of running in the darkness. He had caught something in his teeth. Live, fresh, moving. The blood fed his hunger. He looked down and saw to his horror it had been human. He had killed a human with his bare teeth. The shock was enough to jolt him awake.

He got out of bed and went to the fridge. All of a sudden a hunger cramp knotted his stomach. He needed something. His eyes wandered the shelves. There was nothing he wanted in there. He closed the door and went to the window. He peeked out.

“I’m hungry,” he said out loud as his breath fogged the window.

Chapter 5

“I don’t get it,” River said. “I mean, I know you guys are witches. But what’s this about being elements?”

“Long story and not that interesting,” Autumn replied as she watched Mabon and Rowan over at the barbeque pit.

“I guess it’s you I have to thank for when she was scratched.” Rowan flipped over a burger.

“Actually, I didn’t do too much,” Mabon said, sizing up the other man. “Do you really love my sister?”

“Yes.” He looked at the man who looked a lot like Autumn. It was odd, and well, he had to admit the brother was just as attractive as the sister.

“I was afraid you might hurt her, and you know the rest.”

“Can you turn me into a frog?” The big difference was in their eyes. His eyes weren’t leafy green like Autumn’s. His were a blue that reminded him of the ocean.

He shook his head, laughing. “Maybe. I’ve never tried turning people into frogs.”

Stefan smelled the cooking meat, and his stomach cramped up. It grumbled loudly, and he looked around, seeing if anyone noticed. The hunger grabbed his body, squeezing it painfully. His hands were shaking violently, so he put them on his legs, hiding them under the table. Finally the dark presence in his body surfaced, making him lose control. His eyes went to River’s arm then he looked left, then right, and when he was sure no one was watching, he bent down and licked it.

River jumped up. “Ah, gross!” He wiped at his arm. “Why did you do that?” He shouted, rubbing his hand on Stefan’s shirt.

A growl escaped his lips, and there was vibrating his chest. He rolled River’s taste inside his mouth with his tongue and liked how he tasted. His eyes shot to him; staring, watching his prey. Drool dribbled down his chin as he growled again.  He moved onto the bench and pounced on River. They rolled around on the ground, while River screamed, pushing Stefan’s snarling snapping teeth away from his neck.

“Stefan, what the hell are you doing?” Autumn wanted to help, but the thought of his aura sucking her empty made her hesitate.

“Help!” River screamed. “Helllllp!”

“What is wrong with him?” Anatha asked her brother.

“I don’t know,” he replied with a hesitant smile.

Adair made a weird squeaking noise and jumped at Stefan’s head. Stefan’s red eyes went to the monkey. He licked his lips, untangling himself from River. Walking on his hands and feet, he chased after Adair. River and Rowan watched Stefan run around in a circle as he barked at the air. They exchanged confused glances and went back to staring at their friend.

“Umm,” Linden said as he put down a bowl of salad. He watched Stefan. “I think Stefan’s finally snapped.”

Drake walked up with Envy. “What did we miss?” He watched Stefan.

Aarawn walked over to Mabon. “You get his arms, and I’ll get his feet.”

“I’ll help,” Rowan said.

The three spread out around Stefan, who was still chasing Adair. “Now,” Mabon said as he and Rowan grabbed his arms as he ran by. They pulled him to the ground. Aarawn grabbed his feet.

“It’s about time,” Adair said, leaning against the picnic table, breathing hard. “Angel should have been here. He would have enjoyed watching me get chased.” He wiped his monkey paw over his furry forehead. “I’m not cut out for this kind of exercise.”

Stefan snarled at them, whipping his head left to right as he snapped his teeth at the guys. Rowan cringed, almost letting go. Autumn came over with a small bag. She got to her knees and poured the contents of the bag in her hand.

“Sand?” Mabon asked, fighting with Stefan.

“Earth.” She looked down at Stefan and sprinkled some on his forehead. “Trap of sand, trap this bane and evil will.” She sprinkled more. “Trap of sand, I place a bind upon Stefan.” His body went immobile in their hands, and he looked up at her.

“What happened? What’s happening to me?”

She stroked his head. “I don’t know.”

“You, my friend, are possessed,” Aarawn replied.

“Can we let him go?” Rowan asked.

“Yeah, he’s okay for now.” Autumn felt the darkness ease around Stefan.
Hiding?

They let him go and gave him room to sit up. “Possessed by what?” he asked, rubbing his head. Hunger still gripped him but controllable now.  His eyes widened as he looked over at Adair, and then River. He got to his feet, wanting to apologize.

“I don’t know, but we have to find out,” Mabon said, watching him go over to the picnic table.

River moved over, making a cross with his fingers. “Away, evil demon!”

“I think that only works for vampires.” Drake shook his head, trying not to laugh.

“He tried to bite me!”

“Actually, it looked like he was going to eat you,” Aarawn pointed out. River shuddered and got up, walking to the other side of the table.

****

By the next day the small binding had faded away, letting the evil presence in Stefan break through. They had to tie him down while they figured out what to do next. Anatha and Aarawn went to gather the herbs from Autumn’s greenhouse. Mabon and Autumn were cracking the books, looking for the beasty inside Stefan.

“A teacher, eh? I bet the kids are missing you,” Mabon said.

“Nah,” she replied as her mind wandered. “Bunch of ungrateful heathens, mostly.” If the bad people got to Stefan, could they get to the others? Rowan? River? What would she do if something bad happened to them? Her dream came to her, and she stared at the book with wide eyes.

My choice
, she thought.

Aarawn and Anatha walked in with a bag. Stefan howled.  “Shut up!” Anatha shouted. “He’s as bad as Envy’s dog. Any luck?”

“Not really,” Mabon said.

Autumn looked down at the book and what she had opened it to. Cwn Annwn, Hounds of the Hill. Very large white dogs with red ears. Stefan’s aura was white with red specks. Dogs of the hunt. Belonging to the fairies of the Underworld.
Underworld!
Her mind repeated.

“I found it!” she said happily. “He’s possessed by the Dogs of the Hunt!”

“The hounds of Arawen,” Aarawn said. “Why didn’t I think of that?” He walked around Stefan, watching him closer. “The evidence is there. Plus it’s the only beast dog thing relatively close to Arawen.”

“Only one, though. Stefan would have been torn apart if it was the whole pack,” Mabon said.

“So what now?” Anatha asked.

“We have to get him to Fontane,” Mabon replied.

“Who?” Autumn and Anatha asked at the same time.

“Not who … where. It’s the witch’s safe haven.”

“I’ll contact Pyrus,” Aarawn said, leaving the room.

“I’m going to go with you guys,” Autumn said, looking up from her book, her mind on Rowan and River.

“I think Pyrus wanted you two to come along anyway to teach you more about your magic,” Mabon said, hiding the fact that he would enjoy his sister coming along, wanting to get to know her better. There were so many lost years they had to make up for.

“Can the guys come?” Anatha asked.

Autumn shook her head. “You know they want to go find their families. I think it might be best if they go.”

“Autumn.”

“No. We are not putting them in danger. They’ll be okay farther away from us right now. Plus, this way, they can take Envy and Ivy Lee with them. You know everyone wants them to take a small vacation.” Anatha nodded, not sure it was a good idea

****

Rowan stopped turning the hay with the pitchfork and wiped his head with a rag. River bent over to pitch more hay. They had been mostly quiet all morning, lost in thought. Rowan felt a prickling on his neck. He turned, seeing Autumn watching them.

“Hey, you’re out early.” He shoved the rag in his pocket. He hated animal duty. The government had supplied them with animals of all shapes and sizes. Where they got them, no one cared. All they knew was that they had real meat and plenty of milk. It did, however, make for great late night talks. It was as if the government had all of this planned out, or maybe even had some hand in causing the infection. The theories hung heavily in the air.

She was leaning on the fence, watching them with neutral eyes. “I didn’t go.”

He felt her eyes look him over. He flexed his muscular arms, which made her smile. He worked very hard to get that
muscley
, as she called it. There were many Autumnisms; people in town had even started using some of them. Then those lovely green eyes left him and went to River. Rowan looked at him too. He looked at him as Autumn looked at him. He also had a body that made women’s hearts beat faster. He had a great ass which looked good in … and out of pants. Her eyes drank them in as if they would be gone tomorrow. Gone forever, instead of for a few months. River smiled that dazzling smile at her, but Rowan saw the sadness in his eyes. Did his eyes look just as sad?

“You didn’t go?” Rowan asked as he and River walked toward her. They would always walk toward her.  They couldn’t help it. He couldn’t help it. She had given them all she had.  Now they were moths to her flame, and she burned bright.

“Well, Stefan is really sick,” she said as River leaned into her. “And he
  
” She closed her eyes.

“He?” River whispered, his lips hovering over her skin.

“Oh, yeah. We have to take him to some professional witches.”

“Great! A road trip,” he said, leaning in closer.

“I want you to go find your families,” she said, blurting it out too quickly.

River pulled away from the fence as if it had electrocuted him. “What?”

“You’re in danger around me.” Her eyes became large and glassy, hiding the tears. “I’m thinking about both of you. I couldn’t live if
  
” She choked out a sob.

Rowan reached out, touching her cheek. “What about you?” The only thing separating them was the short wooden fence. He grabbed her unexpectedly, pulling her over to his side, making her yelp in surprise.

“Hey.” She pressed her hands against his sweaty shirt.

“So what about you?” Rowan repeated, playing with her curls.

“What about me?” she asked, caught in the moment.  Faintly, she could hear music playing. When they kissed, there had been no fireworks. The kiss was explosive enough, but music sounded around them. Nature’s music.

“Why should we leave you if there’s danger?” River asked, standing behind her, stroking her arm.

“I have to go with Stefan.”

“And after that?”

“Pyrus wants to teach us what we can do.
The abilities of our magic
, was what she told Aarawn.”

“For how long?” Rowan asked.

She shrugged in his arms, and he kissed her; gently at first, and then with need. There was so much fire and feeling between them when they were all together. He pulled away. “Uh-Uh,” she said, grabbing his head and pulling it back to her. Their foreheads touched.

“Are you sure you want us to leave?” Rowan whispered.

“Yes.”

He heaved a sigh and let her go. “I’m going to hate being away from you.”

River took the opportunity and grabbed her, pulling her to him. “I love you so much,” he whispered before he kissed her.

“Geez,” she said, breaking away from the kiss. “I love you both so much. But this is something I have to do; me and Anatha. We have to help Stefan and learn to control our magic.”  She buried her head in River’s chest.

“But?” River whispered.

Rowan nodded, sighing. “There is always a but, or an and, or something.”

She pushed away from River. She walked away from them both. “Lately, when I’m alone, mostly in the greenhouse or in the apartment, I feel off. I don’t know why, and sometimes it scares me. I feel like I am unwinding, like I’m not myself.”

“Why didn’t you tell us?” River asked.

She shook her head. “I can keep it together, mostly, but with you guys I don’t feel that way. I don’t know why. But this might answer some questions I have about my magic, and maybe I’ll learn about my real parents.”

“I just can’t say goodbye,” River said.

“It’s not a real goodbye,” she said, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “I thought you said you guys were coming back?”

“We do plan on coming back,” Rowan said.

“I meant just a short goodbye.” River reached out for her hand, wrapping his fingers with hers. Rowan took her other hand. It fit well in his. He took River’s hand.

“You guys will protect each other and be safe?”

“Yeah, but what about you?” Rowan asked, squeezing her hand.

“I have Anatha, and a brother, and cousin to keep me safe.”

****

Bryce stood before Moorgun. “I am ready.”

She sneered. “Good.” Her face itched. The ointment she was using wasn’t working that well. Her eyes darted to Peardon. He was lying with his face smashed on the ground. “Pyrus will die before I take the elements from her, and she will know it was my doing. And as she dies, she will know that I have finally won.”