The Gazing Globe (27 page)

Rhiannon waved a hand in a contemptuous gesture. "Hannah's powers were really quite mediocre. All those stupid little hexes. She was careless, fell for Shayla's trap and got caught. And I used her just like I'm using the Reverend. I can make him do anything I want and never have to take theBlainefor his actions. He's not calling me names anymore."

"I don't understand, Rhiannon. What's this all about? What do you want from me?" Blain tried to keep his attention on both Myers and Rhiannon. He didn't know what to expect from either of them.

Rhiannon gave him a sarcastic smirk. "I could say I just wanted you for the wonderful sex. I'm afraid all good things come to an end sooner or later " She affected a sigh. "Such is life. But all that lovemaking was just a ploy to get you away from the house and your uncle so Hannah and I could weaken you.

Hannah just wanted Shayla to come to your aid. You see, a long time ago, Hannah's older sister died trying to keep her place as Sorceress of the Ancients."

"Freyja was Hannah's older sister?"Aftonwhispered.

"That's right, little girl," Rhiannon derisively replied. "But when Freyja died, Hannah believed she should have succeeded her for control of the Order. She believed it was her birthright, but the Order chose to let a usurper be their Sorceress. Freyja had the right idea all along, though. The only way to rule is to make sure the laws are strictly obeyed. And the only way to make sure the laws are obeyed is through fear. That's how to truly to maintain control over so many magical beings. Any of the Order who breaks the law should die, and allowing factions to intermingle their blood is breaking the law. Freyja knew it, and Hannah knew it as well."

"If Hannah thought she could do a better job as Sorceress, she could have challenged Shayla,"Afton said. "That's one of the laws, too. Or maybe the only laws Hannah would have enforced are those she deemed worthy. She and Freyja wanted to keep the power in their bloodline. Is that it?"

"That's the way it should be. Shayla has no right to rule. She won that battle by cheating," Rhiannon angrily responded. "That's the only possible way she could ever have defeated Freyja. Hannah knew that, and she knew she'd be cheated in any fight as well. So she didn't challenge for the leadership."

Rhiannon paused a moment, and then she continued. "The day that fight took place, Hannah saw Freyja would lose. She and a few others left the Order. Some of Hannah's cohorts altered the records of who died that day in all the fighting, so no one even thought she was alive. But all that was years ago. Now the Order has a weak, useless Sorceress. Shayla isn't feared as Freyja was, and members of the Order should fear the position of Sorceress of the Ancients. Whoever holds that title is a Goddess. She can make laws and enforce them as she pleases, and one of the laws that should have been enforced had to do with his parents." Rhiannon pointed at Blain. "Blood shouldn't be mixed the way his is. It defiles the Order."

"You're not even arguing rationally. All you want is to have your way whatever the cost. You want to kill Blain the way Freyja and Hannah would have,"Aftondeclared.

"Actually, it was Hannah's idea to go after Blain Though it took her years, she used the black arts to find out where he and his family were hiding But she didn't want Blain to die quickly She wanted revenge His parents' resistance to the law is what eventually cost Freyja her position as Sorceress and her life When Syndra and Arthur defied Freyja and successfully hid themselves from her in the outside world, others began to resist Freyja's commands as well That was the beginning of the end for her "

"That explains Freyja's and Hannah's actions, but what about you, Rhiannon? What has all this got to do with you?" Blain asked

"Hannah wasn't just my Mistress, though that's what she forced me to call her. She was my mother.

Jediah was my father." She shrugged "I, as Freyja's direct and only living descendent, should now be Sorceress Mother—Hannah— became too impatient, moved in at the wrong time and got herself killed Unfortunately, I have to finish the job here With Shayla's warriors all over the place, it will be much harder, but I will succeed "

Afton gasped "Listen to yourself, Rhiannon You're not even making sense Even if you had been born within the Order, there's no guarantee you'd have ever been Sorceress If Shayla hadn't deposed your Aunt Freyja, someone else surely would have It's obvious that your whole family is crazy, including you "

Rhiannon tilted her head and simply stared at her. "That's not true. It's not true not true."

Blain shook his head in disbelief Confronted with reality, Rhiannon just stood there in front of them with her head at an odd angle, mumbling As Afton said, there was no logic in her argument She was insane by anyone's standards Rhiannon seemed to be interpreting things the way she wanted them to be Whatever was the most comfortable reality for her to deal with.

"You'd have eventually killed Hannah, your own mother, to be Sorceress, wouldn't you?" he asked, watching her slowly come back to reality. He saw her shake her head and the glazed look left her eyes.

"I've wasted enough time explaining myself to fools who won't ever understand. Get up and come with me." She beckoned to Blain andAftonwith her staff.

Against his will, Blain dropped the battle axe and felt himself being pulled forward. His mind didn't seem to control his body any longer. Glancing atAfton, he saw that she seemed equally impaired. The two of them were forced to walk behind Rhiannon and Myers.

"Where are you taking us?"Aftonasked, struggling against the force propelling her forward.

"Mother told me...ah, yes. An entrance to the crystal caves is just ahead. Her description of this woods was very accurate. Shayla will have to follow me into the mines to get you. That means there won't be room for her to bring all her warriors. I'll send Myers to her with an ultimatum. She comes alone, or you both die."

"The Order won't accept someone who takes control this way, Rhiannon. They'll hunt you down for sure," Blain warned.

"And you're suddenly an expert on what they'd do?" She paused as they approached the cave entrance. "Just keep your mouths closed, and I promise you both a quick death. Keep talking and you'll linger in the most horrible way I can imagine."

Blain andAftonwere forced through the cave's entrance while still fighting against the power which controlled them. The ground began to slope gradually downward, and the passageway became more narrow. They walked for what seemed like ages. Torches lit the walls where the workers had left them.

Aftonknew the miners had probably dropped what they were doing as soon as they'd found out about the attack on poor little Pluck. When someone entered the forest and got past the perimeter guard, every man, woman and child old enough to know how were assigned positions of defense, even if that position was to hide those too young or old to fight.

That meant she and Blain would be on their own against a woman using black magic.

ButAftonknew that kind of magic would eventually eat the user alive. Though it was horribly powerful, its practitioners always suffered the most excruciating diseases or deformities toward the end of their lives. It was why no sane soul in the Order ever wielded that type of magic. Even now, its influence was taking away every vestige of human emotion Rhiannon may have ever felt, along with her sanity. All that was left of her was a cold, evil monster with a rock where her heart should be.

If Rhiannon's plan succeeded, the Sorceress of the Ancients would die. The Order would be left in the hands of a black witch who would destroy thousands of years of culture.Aftoncouldn't let that happen.

She glanced at Blain and could see in his eyes that he was thinking much the same thing. If they got a chance to destroy Rhiannon, they'd have to take it.

After walking for some time, Rhiannon stopped in the middle of one of the main chambers. Clear quartz crystals coated the walls and ceiling. They shimmered brilliantly in the torchlight and reflected rainbows of color everywhere.

"A beautiful place to die, isn't it?" She smiled. "Both of you, against the far wall." At her beckoning, Aftonand Blain stumbled backward into the wall and sank to the ground, unable to move. "It's pure hell being in such an impotent position, isn't it? Doesn't it just make you want to scream?" Rhiannon laughed sarcastically. Then, she walked a few yards away to recite an incantation to the catatonic Myers.

"Afton," Blain whispered, "how can she control us so easily?"

"Black magic is very powerful, but it exacts a high toll. It may be that Rhiannon is using a great deal of energy to bind us to her this way."

"What can we do?"

"I don't know unless..."Aftonstopped to think and began to chew on her lower lip.

"What?" Blain urged her to continue.

Aftonlooked straight into his eyes. "Shayla will try to get to us if she can."

"I was hoping she wouldn't." Blain nodded toward the roof of the cave. "There are a lot of people up there who depend on her. If I were her, I'd consider us expendable."

Aftonsmiled. "But you're not her. Ours lives aren't expendable to the Sorceress."

"If that's the case, she'll die right along with us."

"If that happens, the Order might not survive. I'm glad I'm with you, Blain."

"I'm sure as hell not. I want you a few thousand miles from here. Right back on the farm leading animals all over the place."

Aftonshook her head. "I belong with you."

"I love you,Afton."

"Shut up!" Rhiannon called out. She turned back to Myers and lifted her hand. The motion caused him to stumble back the way they'd come. Rhiannon walked behind him for a short distance, making sure he followed her commands. The crystal ball in her staff began to glow as she conjured.

Blain watched Rhiannon and remembered whatAftonsaid about needing a lot of power to hold them so helpless. It gave him an idea.

"Afton, honey, whatever I do or say, stay out of it." Before she could question his intent, Blain called to Rhiannon. "Hey, Rhi!"

Rhiannon made one last gesture toward Myer's retreating figure, then she angrily turned around and stalked to where Blain sat. "I thought I told you to keep your mouth shut!" She leaned over and slapped him hard.

Blain shook his hair back and grinned up at her. "I just had to ask one question."

She straightened, put one hand on her hip and arched an eyebrow. "Not that it matters, but go ahead."

"What was all the sex really for? I mean, you came to Harvest to kill me. You didn't have to screw my brains out just to weaken me. All those hexes were doing a pretty good job. Or was Myers' right on the money?

Rhiannon's lips twisted. "What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about the real reason you had sex with me. Couldn't a used woman like you find a man in New York, or did you have to come all the way out to the sticks to jerk-off some country boy?"

Rhiannon's expression went from insipid boredom to pure fury. She raised her staff and pushed it toward the wall. Blain's body was instantly jerked from his seated position and slammed into the side of the cave.

"Oh, come on, Rhi," Blain gasped as soon as his breath returned. "You have to know the real reason I dumped you." He watched her eyes turn black with rage. "Word all over town was, you'd been sleeping with every man you could find. Hell, sweetheart, even a country boy like me has to have his standards."

Rhiannon's scream of anger echoed off the chamber walls. She dropped her staff and threw herself at Blain, her nails extended like talons. She sank them deep into his chest. Blain was able to move again.

Getting her angry enough to drop the staff and physically attack him had worked.

He pulled her hands away from his body and tried to pm them behind her, but she twisted away and quickly backed up. Before he could rush her again, Rhiannon grabbed her staff

"I told you I'd have your wings mounted over a fireplace. Well I can't think of a better time to pull them off! You’re going to die very, very slowly."

Blain charged, but Rhiannon aimed the staff at him. The same kind of white light that had incapacitated Aftonhit him in the left shoulder He cried out, but kept trying to move forward.

Aftongasped as her body was finally released from Rhiannon's hold. She raced to help Blain. He was doing this for her.

"No,Afton! Get out'"

He threw himself at Rhiannon once more. She was more physically powerful than he could imagine. It had to be the magic she used. As he struggled with her, its dark source physically sickened him.

Aftonwatched in horror as blinding light shot off the crystal walls. Rhiannon's staff directed bolt after bolt of power at Blain. But he was moving too fast, grappling with her to take away the staff which was acting like an amplifier. Shadows appeared against the walls as they struggled.Aftontried to get closer without being struck by the staff's powerful light. One of the shadows didn't move with the fighting couple. It seemed to leap toward them. Then another did the same.Aftonbacked away as the dark figures seemed to come to life and move toward Rhiannon. This was an unholy magicAftonhad never known existed.

"See the powers I have at my beck and call, Blain? See them do as I bid?" Rhiannon gasped.

Blain might have won the battle, even though her strength had been augmented by the powers of the staff and its crystal, but he couldn't fight off the shadow figures that pulled him against the wall and held him fast. They were very much like the same red demons Hannah had summoned. RealizingAftonwas finally free gave Blain some hope.

"Run!" he yelled.

Afton shook her head in refusal, and Rhiannon slowly turned in her direction.

"Afton, if you love me, go!"

"I won't leave you."

"You couldn't hide from me anyway," Rhiannon snarled. "No matter where you went, I'd hunt you down like an animal." Rhiannon summoned more power and sent a beam of it straight towardAfton's chest.

Blain watched in terror as her slender figure folded to the ground.

Rhiannon stood over Afton, laughing. "There goes your little English girl. Too bad. Now I'll just have you to use as a lure."