The Ancients (2 page)

              I slumped into my favorite chair, “I could run.”

              “Doesn’t matter,” she sighed.  “He will search to the end of the Earth for you.  Why did you go?”

              “Curiosity,” I stated.  “I cannot hide forever Grams.  I needed to hear what they said.  Someone is trying for the Ancients.”

              “I don’t give a damn about the Ancients.  I care about you.  Remember what happened to your mother?  I don’t want the same thing to happen to you.”

              My mother wasn’t mated to my father.  He just left her a present after their fling.  I could already feel my wolf stirring more than usual.  “I have no plans to run blindly into Kristoff’s arms, Grams.  I do, however, need to help with what is going on, but I plan to do that from a distance.  If you will excuse me, I am going to get the details the council needs and email it to them.  Maybe they will leave me alone.”

              As I ascended the stairs I heard her whisper, “I highly doubt it.”

Kristoff

“Damn it, Kristoff pay attention,” Michael slammed his fist on the desk for affect.

Kristoff knew he was exasperating his second, but his wolf would not be settled.  “I am sorry for my distraction.”

“Just say the word and I will have her apprehended so you can get this out of your system.”

The alpha stood and stared heavily at his second, “First of all you will not apprehend her like a common criminal, and second she will never be out of my system.  She is mine!”

“Got it, so get her,” Michael stormed out of the office.

It had been two weeks since Rian emailed the necessary information on the Ancients.  She did not appear at any of her normal locations.  I knew she went underground.  She was running from the bond. Tonight I am going to stalk and claim her.

I walked into the bathroom adjacent to my office to change from my suit into jeans and a t-shirt.  I think she will be more receptive of me like this given her chosen wardrobe.  I stalk out of the office building finding my car parked in its usual place and make my way to her location.  The area is heavily warded, but I can still sense her through them.  She is alone.

Rian

I sensed him.  It wasn’t in the traditional sense.  My wolf was happy to have him close.  I was just lucky that Grams and Riley had a coven meeting tonight.  Our house sat on ten acres.  It was one of those old style homes with a wraparound porch.  I figured meeting him on it would make his scent not as noticeable.  “You can come on the porch, but no further.  My Grams would have a fit if I allowed a wolf in the house.”  I said the words as I opened the front door.  They were barely above a whisper, but I knew he heard me. 

“Why are running from me, Rian?” he asked as he ascended the porch steps. 

I shuttered at his words, “Kristoff, this can’t happen.  We need to focus on the Ancients.”

“The problem with the Ancients can be handled by us together,” he expressed. 

I studied his features, “I think we can come up with a compromise to allow us to work together on this problem. I assure you when you get to know me you will be less than interested in mating with me permanently and we will solve the Ancients problem.”

“I can agree to those terms however you will have to understand the level that my wolf is at in this moment.  I am Alpha.  I cannot show weakness to my pack and the lack of companionship with you is making me weak.  I am distracted.”

              Rian snorted, “Well, you didn’t have to announce to the world that I was your mate.”

              “I had to make my claim, Rian,” he shrugged.  “It is a wolf thing.  What I want to know, is how?  I do not sense that you are wolf.”

              “That is not a topic I feel comfortable talking with you about, you are after all a stranger,” Rian said pointedly.  “As far as appearances go, we will work together on the Ancients.  Being seen together should calm your pack some.  Just hold off on the mating ritual ceremony.  You can easily use the current problem to appease most of them.”

              Kristoff stared at her for a moment.  “I guess at this point that is all I can ask of you.  However, I will find out everything about you eventually.” 

              His gaze sent shivers up my spine and caused my wolf to stir.  “Well okay,” I mumble.  “I think you should call the Council together again.  I have some more research that I want to present.  The last two weeks have revealed several incidents that linked together should help us with a timeline and where these idiots are possibly located.”

              “I can arrange that.  Tomorrow at ten.” He studies me for a second more before turning and going back towards his car.  “Oh and Rian?”

              “Yes.”

              “Nothing you say or do will make me go away, even after we solve the problem with the Ancients,” he said confidently getting into his car.

              “We will see,” I whisper as his taillights disappear.

Samara

My work room isn’t much to speak about.  It is your quintessential dark room with a slight draft flowing in from the old mortar construction.  What is unique about the dreary room is the magic that makes the room buzz.  Several generations of my family called this their work room.  My ancestor’s power only enhances my own.  Before starting my spell, I dress in the traditional black and gold robes of the Priests of Weynard.  I pull the hood up covering my auburn tresses.

I look into the cauldron and begin to chant, “Speak to me, thee who are still.  Speak to me, thee who’s will mote be.  Speak to me, thee who should rise.  Speak to me, thee Ancients who should be.”

The drafty room drops at least ten degrees as I continue, “I mote it be, I mote it be, I mote it be. Thrice blessed thy humble servant.”

“Ahh, Sammy, dearest,” Weynard’s voice is smooth with a hiss that makes my stomach crawl.  I hate being called Sammy, but there was no way in hell I would correct him.

I drop to my knees head bowed, “My Lord.”

“Do you have what is needed?”

I slightly shake my head, “No, My Lord, but we are close.  My minion will soon have the location of the necessary tome.  We are only short three items from the list you provided.  Those will be easily acquired through a contact of mine on the black market.”

The astral projection of Weynard moves closer to me.  “Rise and remove your hood.”

I do as bidden.  “So beautiful, auburn hair, emerald green eyes, so like your mother.  Do not disappoint me as she did.  You are the last of your line, the last hope to avenge those who ensnared their betters.”

“I vow on my life that I will see you in flesh and blood form before I die, My Lord.  I am and forever will be your servant.”

“Good girl,” his hand pats my cheek.  His touch is cold, even in this form.  “The next time you call on me, it better be with you having everything together to do the spell to find us.”

“Yes, My Lord.”

“Til then,” his voice hisses as his form disappears.  The room’s temperature rises to normal, but my heartbeat does not still for several more minutes.  Talking to Weynard this way always takes its toll on me both physically and emotionally. 

“I will fulfill my family’s legacy,” I whisper as I clean up the remnants of the spell.

My mother and father where the last of two families that followed in the way of the Priests of Weynard.  They never really loved one another, but they did their duty to produce me, a powerful blend of the two families.  My whole life the mission was engrained into me and I will make sure that I see it fulfilled. 

As I exit my work room into the back room of my herb shop, I hear a movement. “Samara, I have news.”

Martin is my minion.  As part of the coven, he helps me know what is going on without my presence being known.  “Did you find out what the schedule of movement is?”

“I did,” Martin nods enthusiastically.  “Two days from now, at noon it will move from the Coven headquarters to Henrietta’s.”

“Well, we cannot let it make it to its destination,” I smile.  “My dear friend, do you know the route?”

Martin, his poor soul, nods, “Of course Samara, I could do nothing else for you.  They will take the city route.”

Spelling a man infatuated with you shouldn’t be so easy, but with Martin’s weak mind it was too easy.  My mother would be so proud of me.  “Well done, love, meet me back here at eleven o’clock in two days time.”  I say as I move closer to Martin.  He was quite a bit older than me, plump and balding.  By me showing him additional attention, the spell wraps tighter around him.  I cup his face, “Thank you.  With that tome we will be able to break those free who were so violently taken from this world.”

Martin smiles, “You know I would do anything for you, Samara.”

“Oh I know.  See you in two days.” I say this as I lean in to whisper in his ear, “Tell no one of us, of us tell none, be my sight, but not my voice.”

I lean back and smile at Martin, “Remember eleven.”

“I will be here.”

Charles

“Damn, rusty old piece of shit!” I kick the piece of machinery I was working on all day to no avail.  Fred, my black pit bull, just cocked his head with his tongue lolled out to the side looking as silly as always.  So much for a guard dog.  The door to my shop dings indicating a customer.  It was late.  I must have forgot to lock it.  “We are closed,” I yell as I throw my rag onto the machine.

“Not for me I hope,” a beautiful red haired woman said with a velvety voice.

One look at her and I know she is dangerous, “I didn’t stutter, lass.  I only forgot to lock the door.  Now be gone with you.”

“Oh Charles,” she smiles, “It is Charles isn’t it?”

“That is me, but I ain’t interested lady.”

“Well Charles, I think you could be if you just listen.  I have a proposition for you.”

“Look lady my dealings with your breed are done,” I shake my head.  “One too many witches got me into trouble especially pretty red heads like yourself.  I may be a dwarf, but I ain’t dumb.”

I watched as the pretty lady’s eyes begin to glow.  I hear Fred whimper in the background as he scampers into the back room.  “Now, you look here, dwarf.  I came along way to get the items I require.  You will help.”

“No, means no, lady.”

“I am afraid you have no choice in the matter, dwarf,” she smiles a smile that is anything but pleasant.  “I am calling in a life debt you owe my family.  You will honor it or your Gods will strike you down.  My name is Samara de Moray.”

I feel my face pale.  “de Moray?  But that is impossible!  That line died out a century ago.”

“Do you want to risk it?  I promise you my ancestor was Jaqueline de Moray who saved you from execution in 1890.  You did not actually think you escaped your fate, did you?”

I know I am stuck.  Jaqueline saved me from death which means I am in her debt.  She died prior to being able to collect which left the debt to be collected by her family.  I sigh, “I still want proof.”

“I believe you know what this is,” she smirks at me knowing I am going to help her.  She lays in front of me the necklace Jaqueline and I spelled for the debt.

Why is this happening now?  I finally have a decent shop.  I haven’t even done anything illegal in twenty years.  Guess that is about to change.  “What do you want?”

“So glad we finally have any understanding.  I need three items.  You acquire these items in the next two days and your debt is paid,” she says as she hands me the list.

“A Flint Knife from the Naqada period, a flail symbol of power from the God Osiris, and Osiris’ onyx amulet.  How the hell am I supposed to get these?!  Most of these are locked away and the ones on the black market would cost millions.”  This is not good.

Samara simply shrugs her shoulders, “I don’t care where you get them from my dear Charles.  I am sure a very experienced dwarf of your reputation will have no problems.  I will be here in two days time at sunset to retrieve my items and release you from your life debt.”

Up until this point she stayed a few feet from me, however as she spoke she glided towards me cupping my chin caressing my cheek with a long black painted nail.  “Two days, dwarf.”  With that she jerked away, making her way to the door.

Finally she was gone.  When the bell over the door finished ringing, I see Fred come through the back door and he makes his way to my side.  With my shortened dwarf size, I am only a foot and half taller than him.  “Don’t worry, boy I don’t blame you from leaving.  What the hell are we going to do?”

Samara

              The day was here that my life’s work would finally start to be productive.  “Perfect timing, Martin.  Any changes?”

              Martin shakes his head making his comb over flip over.  As he quickly fixes it, “No, Samara, the tome will be yours soon.”

              I should have made a minion years ago.  They are so very handy.  “Excellent.  Do you know which members of the coven will move the tome?”

              “Martha and Hope.  Samara, they are both very strong are we sure this is the best way?”