Chapter 9

 

 

 

I was walking in a dark forest. The leaves beneath my feet rustled as the shadows round crept closer to me, closing in from all sides. A sensation of icy frost pierced my skin, the breath short and weak in my throat. Then I felt them, the ghosts. They approached me silently and slowly with their crimson eyes fixated on me. I ran away, dashing for the end of the forest. A light was shining there, far down the road, and I figured it was my only chance. My legs pounded on the ground as I was running away. A set of dark fingers clutched at my clothes and with horror I realized I was in my nightgown. Damn it! Why was I even dressed like that in the middle of the night, in a lonely forest? The sensation of coldness mounted, chills running up and down my spine while my heart was beating so fast that it threatened to burst out of my ribcage. A scream froze on my lips as the smell of rotten corpses and bodies rolled off the air. The dark shadows filled the space around me and I spotted the black tail of a coyote.

“Aiya, you’re mine.” The ominous words thundered in the air and as if by command, the figures charged at me. I knew this voice. It was Drogo Rothstein’s.

“Acknowledge your one true master—”

“Aiya, Aiya! Wake up! It’s just a nightmare.” Raphael’s strong arms were shaking me, his voice cutting through the dark and malicious words of Drogo. I sat up in my bed and realized that a low scream had just escaped my lungs. Sweat had broken out on my neck, my clothes sticking to my damp body. I saw that in the haste to go to bed, I hadn’t undressed. Probably I was embarrassed because of the archangel and his presence in my room. I recalled that in the nightmare I was in my nightgown, half naked running in that creepy forest. Weird.

“Are you alright? Had a bad dream?” Raphael asked me, his hand squeezing mine. The touch of his skin on mine sent a wave of bluish light fluttering across my flesh, warming my insides and spreading up my arm toward my head. The cozy feeling of a hot fireplace combined with the smell of sunflowers and petals infused my body, making me crave more of his energy. I slumped against Raphael’s chest and told him the nightmare.

“Unbelievable,” the archangel muttered at the end of my story.

“I know! Me, in a nightie running in the forest! Can you imagine it?”

He chuckled. “No, silly. I meant this dream was cast by whoever tried to steal your skull. I think they’re behind the shifters’ disappearances, too.”

“Oh! You think they tried to get into my mind with this nightmare? What for?” I recalled Drogo’s voice. Oddly enough, I had forgotten to tell Raphael this small detail, but now it seemed it had a meaning.

“I dunno, love. I’ve got to call the druid. Well, it’s quite early.”

At his mention of the time, I glanced at my wristwatch. It showed a little before 7 am.

“But Loki claimed the guy goes to bed early, so hopefully he’s an early bird, too.” Raphael went to the chair where he’d put his cell phone and pulled the number out of the address book. Before he dialed it, I turned to him.

“I heard Drogo’s voice just before I woke you up with the most horrendous scream ever.”

He chuckled. “It wasn’t that bad. You sure about Drogo’s voice?”

I nodded.

“That sick bastard! I knew he was behind all this.” Raphael clenched his fist then dialed the druid’s number. Luckily for us, the guy picked up his phone. Raphael had a brief talk, introducing himself and stating that Loki had given him the druid’s number.

“Could you help us with a sorcery-tracking spell? Someone abducted two senior members of the Magic Council and we’re afraid something even bigger is at stake. Yes? Ugh, I can. You can help us? Okay, okay.” Raphael nodded, listening intently to the druid’s voice from the other side of the line. “Yes, I can bring an item to you. Yes. When can we meet? Well, the sooner the better. When I get the item? Oh, that’s great! Yes, I’ll get an item ASAP.” The conversation finished with the druid giving Raphael his address. The latter scribbled it down on a napkin I had tossed on my desk.

“Great news, I just arranged a meeting for us with this Sheridan druid. He seems nice.”

“Let’s hope he can help us, too,” I added. No point in him being nice if he was useless for what we needed.

“Well, I have the feeling he can actually help us. But for that we need to get a personal belonging of either of the two shifters. He needs it.”

I furrowed my brows. “Oh, holy cow, we don’t have an item from either of them.”

“But we have Laura’s number.” A wicked grin danced on Raphael’s lips as he pulled out her number. This time we hit a wall. Her phone was switched off and Raphael had to mentally call her.

“I don’t like intruding in a stranger’s mind space and their thoughts, but this is for her husband’s safety,” he said as he was connecting with her.

“I’m sure she’ll understand.”

Well, she almost did. Turned out, she suffered from insomnia and was furious when the archangel woke her up at the ungodly early hour for her of 7 o’clock in the morning. She refused to let us come to her house and pick one of her husband’s items; instead she directed us to her husband’s office at the Magic Council’s headquarters.

“Are you sure he has an item there? I mean, one the druid can use?” I asked when Raphael was done with his mental conversation with Landon’s wife. From his reaction and the clear facial expression of relief, the conversation hadn't been particularly pleasant.

“Yes, she claimed her hubby had a lot of personal items in his office.”

“So…? What are we waiting for? Let’s teleport there. I hope the security guards will let us in.”

“We won’t be having an issue with them. We have Neil Murdoch’s permission.” He winked at me. “You sure you don’t want to have breakfast first?”

I shook my head. “After that dream, ugh... nightmare, I don’t have an appetite. At least for breakfast.”

He nodded. “As you wish.”

He put his jacket and shoes on, and I put on a warmer jacket. Since we were heading to the Canadian mountains, warmer clothes were a good idea.

Once I was ready, he wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me closer to him. “Ready?” He'd barely asked the question when the familiar shimmering cloud of glyphs appeared. It sparkled in my room, brightening it up in white-golden colors, and took us through the void.

***

We stepped in front of the Magic Council’s headquarters; the cold and tall glass building stood like a sentinel blocking our way. The sun was peeking from behind the clouds as the day had already kicked out the last remains of the night. Raphael strode to the front door and barely acknowledged the fox shifter—that same receptionist who we’d met the previous time we'd visited Neil in his office. Interestingly enough, she didn’t ask what we were doing there that early in the morning. I suspected the mentioning of Neil Murdoch’s name last time had left quite an impression on her.

The elevator took us to the nineteenth floor as Raphael told me it was where Landon’s office was. The official investigators had provided Raphael all the details of the shifters’ disappearances and their daily lives.

Landon’s office was unlocked and we entered it seamlessly. The room resembled the one back at his home. A large, simple, cozy- furnished room. This one though had a big window that overlooked San Francisco's bridge and the nearby bay. Raphael dashed to the mahogany polished desk squeezed to the back wall and picked up a small statuette. It was of a woman dressed in a gown, highlighting her voluptuous breasts.

“What is this? Do you think it counts as a personal item?” I asked.

Raphael shrugged. “Dunno. We can take it and try. The druid will tell us if it works. Look for something more personal, like clothes or a diary. Yes, a diary should work.”

I opened all the desk’s drawers and finally stumbled upon a small notebook. The shifter had scribbled down the pages with appointments, daily tasks, meetings, and names, oftentimes with a pencil and sometimes with a black pen.

“This should do it. We take both the figurine and the notebook and go to the druid.” Raphael dialed his number again and after a short conversation, even shorter than the previous one, Raphael informed me we would teleport to the druid’s place.

“Are you sure you can deliver us there?” For some reason I had doubts about this teleportation.

“Of course. Why the concern all of a sudden?” His voice sounded indignant and I realized I was questioning his abilities.

“No offense intended, but how can you envision the place when you’ve never been there?”

A smile flickered on his face, the crease on his forehead disappearing, and his boyish charm was back on place. “That’s why I have my magical powers. Forgotten about them?”

I arched my brows but said nothing. My sister could prepare teleportation charms, but they had a duration and had to be recharged after certain levels of usage, just like batteries. Apparently gods and archangels, maybe even angels could use teleportation unlimitedly—I remembered how Damian had teleported us the first time he'd taken me to Angels’ City.

As Raphael pulled me closer to himself, and the shimmering cloud took us yet again, I made a note to ask him if I possessed any skills like teleportation. Once we were on the other side.

***

The magic spat us out in a bright, sunlit valley, my legs hitting the soft grass under my feet. A wide mountain range surrounded us, the mountain tops all snowy. Forests climbed the slopes below, yet the air down here felt warm and nice. A lot nicer than in the big city of San Francisco, or even back in my small coastal town. The atmosphere here felt pure. No carbon emissions, no traffic, just the wilderness and the big bright horizon, and the endless sea of meadows and mountain peaks. If it weren’t for our meeting with the druid, I could totally picture myself taking a vacation here. Raphael had mentioned the name of the nearby village but I’d forgotten it. It was somewhere in British Columbia, Canada was all that I remembered.

“Wow, that was unexpected. And beautiful,” I said as I dusted off my clothes from the specks that swirled around after we hit the ground.

“He lives in the house, there.” Raphael showed me a small white cottage that lay ahead of us, a few dozen feet away, and marched toward it.

“Umm, I’d like to ask you something,” I said, trying to keep up with his pace.

“Yes?”

“Okay, I’ll shoot straight away. Can I teleport like you guys?”

He slowed down his pace, turning his head to me, interest flickering in his eyes. I stared back at him, demanding an answer.

He sighed. “Okay, you want the truth, right?” He didn’t expect a reply since he went on, “I don’t think you have this type of magic inside you. But we have a special bracelet we give to our angels, one they can use to teleport. It’s more practical than the teleportation charms. You are acquainted with them, you used them to teleport from Drogo’s castle.”

“Yes, yes, I remember. So, does Damian have such a bracelet?”

“Yes, he does. Was that what you wanted to know? We still need to meet the druid. I can fetch you one of our bracelets later on. Now, can we move on, please?”

I nodded and we strode to the cottage. Drawing nearer to the building, I noticed the wooden beams on both ends of the roof, supporting it, and the smoke that billowed from the small chimney. A small garden lay pressed to the cottage’s other end, dozens of plants growing there. Perhaps the druid used these plants in his spells and potions? As I entertained the thought, the front door opened and a tall guy dressed all in black appeared. For a second I wondered if he might be a Navy SEAL or something. A few dark tattoos dotted the bare skin of his neck; as I stared at them, trying to follow their patterns, chills prickled my skin, and the smell and taste of lavender and oregano engulfed my senses. No doubt, these were magical tattoos.

“Archangel Raphael?” the guy asked, his voice surprisingly tender and soothing yet masculine. I didn’t know what I'd expected but something more like a bearded old guy dressed in white drapes, kinda like a Tolkien character. This guy, though, defied all my expectations. He was young, attractive, with tattoos, and full of vigor.

“Yes, and that is my partner, Aiyana Carter,” Raphael introduced me. The druid cast me a glance and stretched out his hand to me. I shook it, the touch giving me a warm, lingering feeling of herbal teas and delicious meals at sunset. A wave of intoxication exploded in my veins and just as quickly it faded away as he took his hand from mine. I hated to admit it, but I didn’t want to let go of his touch.

“Please, come inside,” the druid said and made space for us to cross the threshold. Inside, the smell of sandalwood, lavender, chamomile, and a bunch of other herbs and plants rolled off the air, assaulting my senses. He led us to what looked like a living room with a multitude of plants in pots filling the far end of it. He pointed at the two chairs; I perched on one, Raphael on the other.

“Did you bring a personal item of either of the missing shifters?” the druid asked us, standing upright in the center of the room, a few feet from us.

“Yes, even two items. Here they are.” Raphael took the small bag we'd put the notebook and the figurine in, handing them to the druid. “We only took items of one of the missing shifters, Landon Thompson. You said one was sufficient?”

“Yes, no need for both of their personal items as I believe they’re at the same place,” he drawled as he scrutinized the objects. “Very well, I believe these two items will be more than sufficient. Ideally a piece of their clothing is best but these two work also, especially the notebook. I see the man wrote quite a lot in his own handwriting. Good that people still use a pencil and a sheet of paper,” he mused as he turned the figurine in his hand, the notebook in his other hand. He suddenly turned to us. “Do you know what I’m afraid of?”

Raphael and I glanced at each other, but no one ventured to guess the druid’s fear. It seemed like he didn’t expect a reply, either, since he went on, “Technology has changed us all, for better or worse. I’m concerned that the dark forces can attack us through a blend of magic, sorcery, and high tech.”

I arched my brows, wondering how old the druid actually was. These lines of thought were characteristic of the older generations.

“Ha! Peculiar.” The druid’s voice cut the awkward silence that followed his mini speech on the dangers of technology.

“What is it? A problem?” Raphael jumped to his feet, his eyes alerted, gleaming with determination.

“Ah, no, no need to worry,” he chuckled and showed us the figurine. “This lady is not a random woman, it’s a fairy, and her name is Tessa. A lovely lady, one of a kind.” His eyes took on a dreamy expression, his voice turning softer.

I rolled my eyes. Was this guy remembering a former lover or a fling of his? Regardless, we weren’t here to hear his Casanova escapades, but help us track and find the person or persons who had cast the sorcery that blocked us from getting to the shifters.

“Umm, about the sorcery-revealing spell,” Raphael began tentatively and the druid snapped out of his trance-like reminiscence state.

“Ah, yes, sorry for the straying away. About that—I’ll prepare the spell and will get information for you guys in a few hours. I think by 2 pm I ought to have something specific for you.” He smiled at us and before I could fire a question at him, which I wanted to, he added, “Be aware that I’m doing you this favor only because you’re friends with Loki.”

Me, friends with Loki? Is he out of his freaking mind? Sure, he didn’t glare at me, but I wouldn’t call him a “friend,” not even on Facebook.

“I could hardly call it a favor when I have to do something for you, too,” Raphael noted.

“You owing me one is not an incentive for me, mate,” the druid said. “I’d never bother with a complicated spell, one I’ve never cast before, if it weren’t for your friendship with Loki.”

I cringed again when he mentioned how close we were supposed to be with Loki.

“Okay, guys, I’m going to my room to get the ingredients for the spell. You can walk out the front door, right?”

“Are you sure you’ll be ready by the early afternoon?” I asked him.

He only shot me an indifferent glance and went to the other end of the living room, up to the door. “Oh, and tell the old devil to call me. We haven’t been to the Three Witches and the Broomstick in a long while.”

He was about to exit the room when I said, “Loki now hangs out at McManus’ Pub and Grill. You should drop by someday, too. It’s fun. I work there.” I forced a smile, and he grunted at the last line, resuming his walk.

“Well, you won him with that line. Especially the part where you work at McManus’,” Raphael said and I nudged him.

As we exited the druid’s cozy and small cottage, Raphael’s features hardened, his eyes closing shut. I knew instantly, someone was mentally contacting him. I patiently waited for the end of the message and took a good look at the snowy peaks that encircled all sides of the beautiful and green valley.

“Durga just called me. She wants to meet us immediately,” he said.

“Okay. Is it going to be in Angels’ City or back in Eden Hall? But in that case, I don’t know how we can get past the time issue. You know, time moving faster there than—”

“She wants to meet us here. I mean in the human world. At your place.”

“What?”

“She wants to meets us at your place, that is, in your town,” he repeated.

“Yes, thank you. I heard you the first time. But how? Where?”

“Well, we have to think of something. I take it your house won’t be appropriate, right?”

I nearly choked when he said that out loud. A goddess in my living room? Accompanied by the other gods and archangels? I didn’t know how many members of the Council of Nine would show up, but I guessed at least a few. “My house is off limits, forget it.”

“Oookay, just wanted to check with you.”

“Other than Durga, is anyone else from the council coming?” I asked.

“Hmm, well, I’m coming, obviously. Loki, too. I think Shiva will come too, and possibly Michael.” His forehead creased as he calculated.

“Well, that makes half the council.”

“We can meet in a restaurant or a bar. Wait.” He turned to me, his face lightening up as an idea dawned on him. “What about your pub, McManus’? Can we meet there? It’s barely 11 o’clock, so I doubt there are many customers there.”

As much as I hated admitting it, he had a point. The pub was nearly empty till the late afternoon, and the main crowd filled our establishment from 5 or 6 pm onward. At lunch time we had some customers, but they always ate in the main room. We could go in the smaller room intended for smoking. We could bring a few more chairs. It wouldn’t be anything like a board meeting, but since Durga wanted to meet in the human world, I didn’t see a better alternative. Besides, Jeff’s pub was a supernatural hangout spot, not like your typical cowboy Western bar.

“Okay, I think I can arrange it.”

“Great, I knew you’d come around.” He squeezed my shoulders tight, his touch sending a giddy, fluttering wave across my skin. I felt lightheaded. “I’m calling Durga. Should I tell her to teleport to your pub now or wait until later?”

“Well, the pub’s not mine. I’m just a bartender, and a temporary one at that. I’ll do my best, but warn her not to enter the pub without me,” I argued, but he wasn’t listening to me. His forehead had creased further, his eyes half-closed, his face serious, and I assumed he was listening to the goddess Durga.

“Okay, that went fast. She said she’s taking Shiva and they will be there within half an hour in front of your pub. Let’s teleport there, babe.”

For some reason I cringed when he called me “babe.” His arm pulled me closer to his chiseled chest, heat radiating from his skin while he wrapped the other arm around my shoulders. The familiar shimmering cloud appeared, creating a whirlwind of sparkling glyphs that took us through the void into my small town of Santa Theresa.