| |
THE SUN SET, THE CARPENTERS vacated the property, and Josh said his farewell for the night—he'd be back in the morning to perform a final inspection in the daylight to make sure nothing got missed during the cleanup.
The point—the Howards finally had their home back to themselves. Well, Melinda, along with three relieved vampires and four just waking up gargoyles who'd been forced into the safety of the shadows this last week.
Melinda plunked down on a sofa, letting out a pleasant moan. She leaned forward and poured a glass of wine from the bottle she'd brought with her.
Courtney, Annie, and William sipped on warmed blood, freely, rather than having to do it on the sly to make sure they weren't found out.
Even the gargoyle, Finn, was having a grand old time getting comfy on the floor near Melinda, at ease that all the strangers had finally left the premises and witchy business could continue as normal. She was ready to move forward with her own plans, to find some way to make William human again, and was gathering ideas to pass by Mathew when he returned. She hoped it would be soon, but they had no idea how long he and the others would be with the Guardians.
But for tonight they were thrilled to simply bask in the peace and quiet.
Until too soon later they were startled by the shadow of lights pulling into the driveway and Finn bounding out of a quick snooze, honking out a chilling warning that ended their revelry.
"Apparently, I didn't yell JINX loud enough," grumbled Melinda.
Who'd be arriving so late? They weren't expecting anyone...
William was the first to flash out of the room and investigate, followed by Annie and Courtney. Melinda grumbled through the sleepy glass of wine fog all the way to the front of the house.
"Who's the witch here, anyway? Stupid vampire speed." But she froze once she'd stepped onto the front porch, her mouth dangling open like it didn’t remember how to shut. William and Annie were battling a snarling Courtney from attacking someone.
So much for peace and quiet and chaos staying away a little longer.
First surprise, Charlie and Lizzy were home.
Second surprise, it was Mack who'd given them a ride home from the docks.
Third and craziest surprise ever—they'd brought a tied up and feisty prisoner with them.
Stricker.
Sir Tinkham Sickereaux.
The blasted leader of the Feyk.
Out of sheer need to control the situation before things went haywire, William released Courtney and dashed over to the Feyk and vampire-knocked him upside the head. He slunk to the ground a slithery pile of unconscious skin and bones.
"Bet that felt good," Melinda mumbled under her breath. William's sharp eyes flitted back to her confirming just how good it felt. Probably would have been better had he removed the Feyk's head completely.
But the main question of the night: why the heck was Stricker here, and their prisoner?
Courtney finally surrendered, insisting she was fine and stopped fighting.
"Welcome home?" William aimed at Charlie and Lizzy, many questions weighting his greeting.
"We thought we'd make a grand entrance," Lizzy retorted with a fake and annoyed smile.
"Oh, you wanted grand?" joked Mack. "I shoulda turned on my lights and siren." She rolled her eyes and winked mischievously.
"How is it he didn't just pop out?" Melinda questioned. Typically, it was impossible to ensnare a Feyk because of their ability to dematerialize.
"Let's just say he lost that ability when he lost leadership of the Feyk."
"What?" a few voices called out at once.
"How about we get Stricker locked up tight," decided Charlie. "Then I'll explain what happened. I hate to do it, but we're going to need a family meeting, asap."
Melinda cleared her throat and approached with a wary smile.
"This is all you've got tonight." She shrugged, waving around at the few of them standing around. Charlie and Lizzy passed a questioning gaze between them as William dragged the unconscious Stricker into the mansion and down into the basement cell, locking him inside.
Melinda quickly explained that Mathew and the others were gone, visiting the Guardians. That the carpenters had just vacated the premises after getting the mansion repaired. And that Michael and Emily were busy and unless the world was literally about to end, she would not be calling them home.
"Well, I get they might be busy, but this is pretty darn important—" Charlie started to argue but Melinda stopped him with a tired smile.
"It's a long story, but Michael and Emily got married. Today. Hours ago. So they are that kind of busy..." and if anyone understood, it was Charlie and Lizzy. Who squealed in delight while Charlie opened his mouth to respond.
But in true Charlie fashion only grunts and incoherent words formed for a solid thirty seconds before he finally got out, "Thank God. It's about time."
Lizzy grinned. "I want to hear all the juicy details."
"And you will," promised Melinda.
Charlie let the news soak in. He was disappointed they'd missed it and yet understood perfectly. He smiled at his mate.
"Sometimes you have to seize the moment," she said.
"Or the moment seizes you," he teased back in loving memory of how she'd bitten him in his sleep without his knowledge.
"Better to act and ask forgiveness after," she reminded all too innocently. "Oh, and update. Not pregnant yet! Not for the lack of trying." She winked at her mate who merely shook his head and would decide her punishment later for the too much information share. Which is exactly what she expected.
Melinda chuckled. "It's been one week, guys. And seriously, so don't need to hear about it. Only want to know when I'm going to be an auntie."
"And not to dissuade your efforts," added William with a humored smile as he reappeared by her side, "but why the heck is Stricker here?"
Mack raised her hands that she was out before they got into the nitty gritty of it all. "You all keep me posted with what you figure out. I'll see ya tomorrow. I've got my own feisty crumpet warming up my dang bed." She winked and pulled off leaving Charlie and Lizzy befuddled.
"How long were we gone?" he muttered. Funny how a week could turn a world upside down.
"Maybe we should go back to the boat?" Lizzy suggested. "Maybe we came home to the wrong dimension or something? Is there a Demon Isle Triangle?"
"Oh for love of—" trailed off Melinda. "It's all real. I'll catch you up." She motioned for everyone to follow her inside and they got as cozy as possible in the kitchen while Melinda put on some coffee. She hurriedly regaled them with everything that had happened since they'd left on the boat and when finished, pinned a gaze on Charlie that ordered, your turn.
"Okay. Well. It's actually not all that exciting. Lizzy and I were heading inland. We docked the boat and were cleaning up and gathering up our stuff. I was minutes from calling for a ride home when Mack swung by and saw us. She was on her way home and offered to drop us off."
"So how does Stricker fit into all this?" asked Courtney. "The jerk doesn't just surrender himself."
"He didn't," Lizzy explained. "He was booted as leader of the Feyk."
"How did that happen?" asked Melinda.
"Evil is in total upheaval," Charlie continued. "Rae's arrival has set off a chaos bomb and evil is either on the run or joining forces. The Demons are recruiting for war."
The room slipped into a hush, although this wasn't exactly a surprise. Albeit a grim reality they'd have to face all too soon.
"A Demon war will be the biggest, nastiest battle ever fought." Melinda leaned into the counter to steady herself.
"A war that might change the landscape of the world, and not just The Demon Isle," William added in bleak reality.
"But how do the Feyk fit into all of it?" asked Annie.
"They opted not to join forces with the Demons." Lizzy raised an eyebrow as if to say, I know, right? Being just as shocked by this as the rest of them.
"They haven't suddenly turned a page and become allies, or good," Charlie clarified. "They just didn't want to fight in a war they felt certain they'd lose, regardless."
"Because Demons and true evil do not share power," William stated. "Stricker disagreed?"
"He wanted to join the Demons. The rest of the Feyk did not and mutinied. They were pissed he'd gotten them mixed up in the last attack, and basically, they want to go into hiding until the war is over."
"Probably hoping everyone else kills themselves off so they can rise up to the top by simply stepping out of the dang shadows," Courtney spat. "Lazy cowards is all the really are."
"While true, it still doesn't explain why Stricker is locked up in our basement," noted Melinda.
"The Feyk offered him up as a peace offering. They'd leave us alone if we leave them alone." Charlie eyed Courtney.
"Only one Feyk I'm interested in killing and he's in your basement." Of course, before she killed him, she'd have some fun torturing the sick excuse of a Feyk and get some answers out of him. She'd finally find out who really murdered her coven and fiancé, Bree.
"So they just popped in and dropped him off?" Melinda questioned.
"More or less." Her brother glanced around the room. "I was hoping to talk with Rae. We know so little about Demons, really, when you think about it."
"And with the Guardian and Demon truce over, we can't know what to expect." William ground his jaw, his gaze blackening. And wasn't that a thought that dimmed their hope for a longer break from the chaos. And he still had his own personal demon to deal with—Mina. His sire. The vampire who'd cursed him into this existence.
As if she read his mind, Melinda's hand slid into his own as a firm reminder they were in this together. His anger ebbed because she was right, and he was not going back on that promise.
"We're sure this isn't a trap of some kind?" Melinda asked.
"That was my first thought," Lizzy replied. "But no. It's not a trap. The Feyk made a bargain."
"And they do honor their bargains," Courtney growled.
"I guess for tonight, we keep Stricker locked up. Tomorrow, we'll see if we can make him talk." Charlie smirked when Courtney snarled out that she'd make the Feyk talk.
"And the Demons?" asked Melinda.
"They're coming." Charlie's features hardened. "I don't know when. But they will come."
"Time doesn't mean as much to them as it does to us," reminded Melinda.
"Which might give us time to prepare," William said. "But I'd be remiss if I didn't advise immediate precautions. Including, at the least, warning Michael and Emily."
"But we will wait until morning," Melinda practically ordered. "I mean, geez, give them one night before their world is ruined again."
Charlie smiled somberly but agreed.
"I can't even fathom what a war between Guardians and Demons will look like, but it will find its way here. Maybe even the entire world."
And wasn't that a terrifying thought. The unaware world thrust into a supernatural war.
What would the world be like when it was done?
Lizzy grew inquisitive and a minute later Charlie was nodding as if they were having some silent conversation between them. It brought a smile to Melinda's face. She hadn't even had a moment to enjoy her brother being home. He was totally still Charlie, and yet, different. There was a calmer confidence to him that had everything to do with his new mate.
"We need to spread the word," Charlie announced.
"Up until now, most of the supernatural world has lived as we do," Lizzy continued. "They find a coven," she aimed at Courtney, "or a place like Sorcier," she aimed at William and Annie, "and stick together."
"And on rare occasions, like recently here, or during the Deane war long ago, have banded together to fight," Charlie continued.
"But this fight is bigger than any one of us alone." It was William who said it, and though it pained him to involve others, they were right. This war would spread and be far more reaching than just the shores of the Isle.
"I'm not saying we turn the Isle into a battle zone, or bring the entire supernatural community here," said Charlie. "But they need to be prepared too, so they can fight to protect their own covens. Their own Sorcier's."
"With Demons running amok, no place will be safe," Annie realized somberly.
"It's time for a new Grand Coven." Charlie let that sink in. There was no time in recent memory when a Grand Coven had been needed. In fact, it had been dissolved long, long ago.
"Grand Covens haven't even existed in—" Melinda had to really think about that.
"Well over a hundred years," Lizzy informed. "The world was different then. Smaller, in some ways. But also more dangerous for supernatural beings as humans did not understand us, or want to. And not that it's changed tremendously in the here and now, but at least we have better ways of blending in and communicating with each other."
"But I think you're right," William agreed. "It might be time to reconvene the Grand Coven."
"Leaders of supernatural covens all over the world coming together in one place?" Melinda stated tersely. "What could go wrong?" She rolled her eyes. "JINX doesn't help by the way. Already tried." She glared playfully at William who gave her a humored simper in return. So much for a break and peace and quiet.
Lizzy grinned. "That's the great part though. The Grand Coven doesn't happen in one place. Or even a real place. It's a meeting of the minds. A magical mind palace, if you will."
And Melinda's jaw was hitting the floor again. It was almost incomprehensible. A magical meeting of the minds, inside their minds.
"That's a heck of a thing, right there," expressed Courtney.
"But needed. The war is coming. Our world, our way of life is in jeopardy," said Charlie.
"As is the human world," Lizzy added. "Bringing back the Grand Coven is the best way to protect our way of life."
"And what about the human world?" asked Annie.
"We've always been protectors of everyone," Melinda answered.
"And so it shall always be," William stated firmly.
"But we are not enough to win this war," admitted Charlie.
"Which is why we need the Grand Coven," added Lizzy. "So everyone can decide amongst their own communities how to defend themselves as well as protect the unaware human population."
A hush blanketed the kitchen as they processed what was to come. And even though it was frightening, not knowing what the future held, there was an odd sort of confidence that kept the overwhelm of the situation dampened.
Perhaps it was that the reality wasn't sinking in yet—they were going to fight Demons.
Or perhaps, it was that all they'd learned and experienced had readied them for this war.
The lessons were some of the most brutal, life-changing, and non-sensical lessons in so many ways. But just thinking back to the months and years gone by, and recalling where their lives had been before, they'd not have been prepared for a war of this magnitude or importance without that brutality and harsh reality check.
In some ways, though, there was no way to be perfectly prepared.
"I can't believe I'm saying this," started Melinda. "It's kind of sick really, but after all the trials we've suffered through, we have been pushed to our limits and beyond. In a way, forcing us to be ready for this war."
"Like fate, or magic, or what have you has been working in mysteriously witchy ways to prepare us for this battle all along?" offered Lizzy, having been thinking something similar.
"So there is a point to it all?" Courtney responded. Her own actions under fire seeing as they'd gotten her to the here and now.
"It may not seem like it in the moment," said Annie, "but I've always thought such." Of course, being around people like Aunt May in Sorcier had a hand in that.
"Bravery comes from understanding fear," William stated, his gaze nuzzling Melinda as all eyes pinned on him. "And loyalty doesn't come merely from legacy or a sense of duty," he aimed at Charlie. "But by understanding what it means to be cast aside and treated as worthless." He nodded kindly at Lizzy.
William breathed deeply, looking inward to himself. "The true fight comes from within us all, not just on the battlefield. True freedom comes from knowing what it means to lose it. And true strength and purpose in the fight to keep that freedom can only come from understanding the cost of losing it."
They'd all been forever changed by recent events. He realized now, more than ever, just how important a part they each had to play in this world and a future still undecided. Things in this life did not always seem fair. Or right. Or make even a bit of sense in the immediate scheme of things.
And while some wrongs could never be righted, and some things would never make sense, and while William had never believed that every single event happening around them could be part of some grander plan, there was something perplexingly calming—this knowledge that maybe, just maybe, there really was some unknown, unseen force at work, pushing them so they'd be ready.
They were balancing on the brink of a war the likes of which none of them had ever witnessed or may ever witness again. And while it loomed over them like a heavy and dreary darkness that could easily consume them all, they'd never felt such a sense of hope. And purpose. And unity. And strength.
It went beyond duty or legacy.
Beyond being witches, and vampires, or werewolves, or spirit vessels...
Beyond friendship and family—a bond deeper than blood that was far reaching and unbreakable.
It was the value of life, and love—priceless commodities worth every sacrifice—an unshakable connection to all things worth fighting for in this world.
Whether it was preordained in the stars or by destiny, or by the blood running in their veins, they would heed the call and fight. Not just because of duty. Or out of fear. But because it was simply the right thing to do.
War would come.
But they were ready to face this evil, together.