Chapter 19

The light was blinding as Alice emerged from the portal, her wings spread wide. No longer leathery like a dragon’s, they now glowed pearly white, feathers rustling. She was magnificent.

I shielded my eyes as Alice gathered us up, her magic pulling me and the others from that wretched dimension. The familiar scents of the Ridley washed over me.

Alice wasted no time. She let us fall to the carpeted floor, then brushed past without a word, her body shifting as she moved. Delicate scales rippled across her skin, shimmering white and iridescent. She flung open the front doors and stepped outside.

Alice didn’t require kevlar. I still had my suit. I dropped my visor over my eyes to protect myself from the light.

Alice announced her return to the world with a primal roar. I hurried after her, stunned by the sight that greeted me. Cupids—thousands of them—streamed through the sky toward Alice, their wings beating furiously. She stood with arms upraised, catching their small bodies as they dove into her breath.

I knew what she was doing. Sending them home, using Oblivion’s power to do it. She had found hope, faith, and love. And it had given her the strength to suppress the dragon within.

But for how long? Oblivion lurked under the surface, biding his time. We still needed to retrieve the lamp. To find a way to contain him more permanently.

A flash of rainbow light nearly blinded me. I blinked, and Pauli was perched on my shoulder, tongue flicking, scales glinting.

“Miss me?” he said, then dissolved into laughter at my startled expression.

Before I could respond, the air swirled with emerald motes. They coalesced into Muggs, with Juliet, Hailey, Mel, and Goliath at his side.

Juliet rushed forward and kissed my cheek. “What happened?” she asked, pink hair tousled, concern in her dark eyes.

I sighed. “It’s a long story.”

I gave her an abbreviated summary—Alice defeating Oblivion by embracing love, by relying on her faith, but the demon still lurking within.

Muggs nodded solemnly. “We must retrieve the lamp. I’ve hidden it away, protected by powerful enchantments.”

I rolled my eyes. “I know exactly where it is. The same damned place I found Oblivion and Alice.”

His eyes widened in surprise. “I should have known. To think we could traverse worlds and a dragon wouldn’t know it.”

“An oversight on our part,” I admitted. “And it cost us a few of our own. Oblivion killed some of our best soldiers before Alice took control.”

Muggs shook his head as he watched Alice. “This isn’t wise, Mercy. If Oblivion already killed some of our team, what kind of rage will he unleash if he gets free again? How long do you think Alice can keep that dragon leashed?”

“I don’t know,” I admitted. “But she’s agreed to the plan. She doesn’t want to spend the rest of her life fighting against Oblivion, either. We need to take her to Ladinas.”

Juliet slipped her hand in mine, gaze troubled as she watched Alice on the street below.

“She’s killing them, isn’t she?” Juliet asked quietly. “The cupids.”

I squeezed her hand. “She’s sending them home. Wherever that might be.”

It was a small comfort, but hope was in short supply of late. We had to take it where we could find it.

“Alice knows what must be done?” Muggs asked. “She understands that she and Ladinas will have to keep Oblivion in that lamp with them forever?”

I met his gaze steadily. “She’s ready.”

Muggs stroked his beard thoughtfully. “That djinn is going to give us one hell of a fight in a century when he realizes what we’ve done.”

I laughed. “Well, in a century, we’ll all be stronger and wiser. Plus, we have a hundred years to hammer out our plan. It’ll be nice to be prepared for the bad guy for once.”

Juliet tightened her grip on my hand. I surveyed the streets ahead, watched as Alice dispatched the last of the cupids in a flash of light.

Juliet interlaced her fingers with mine as we watched Alice finish sending the cupids back to their realm. I felt the brush of her pink hair against my cheek as she leaned her head on my shoulder, seeking a moment of quiet connection amidst the chaos.

“I love you,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

My cold heart swelled. Vampires didn’t blush, but if we could, my face would be flaming right about now. I turned and pressed a gentle kiss to her hair.

“I love you too, Juliet.”

The words were inadequate for the depth of feeling between us, which was a lot more than a feeling now.

Muggs cleared his throat, breaking the spell of the tender moment. “I may have a solution. A pocket dimension where we can seal the lamp. Time moves much slower there. Ten thousand years will pass for every one of ours.”

I barked out a laugh. “That’s about as close to forever as we’re gonna get. I think that’ll do nicely.”

The cornstalks rustled as we made our way through the lamp world. Muggs led the way, with Juliet’s hand clasped firmly in mine. Alice brought up the rear, her steps slow and hesitant.

A young girl suddenly burst from the crops ahead, barreling towards us at full speed.

“Mommy!” she cried, flinging herself into Alice’s arms.

Alice laughed, surprise and delight chasing away the shadows in her eyes. “Well, I don’t know about that, but I’d sure like to be!”

The girl giggled and squeezed Alice tight. My dead heart lurched a little in my chest.

I tore my gaze away, only to meet familiar crimson eyes watching me from up ahead. Ladinas. Still wearing that damn Michael Landon getup, suspenders and all.

Alice saw him at the same moment I did. With a joyful shout, she sprinted forward, leaping into his waiting arms. They clung to each other, lost in their reunion.

When they finally parted, Alice’s expression had fallen somber.

“Oblivion is inside me,” she said urgently. “We have to get him out.”

Ladinas nodded, unsurprised. Of course, he already knew. Extending one hand, a glass jar materialized from nowhere. He passed it to the little girl.

“Open this, Beatrice. You’re getting a new pet.”

The girl’s eyes went wide. She fumbled eagerly with the lid.

Ladinas touched Alice’s chest. A soft glow emanated from within. Alice gasped, then slumped against him in relief.

When Ladinas withdrew his hand, he held a tiny, writhing dragon. With a flick of his wrist, he dropped it into the waiting jar.

Beatrice quickly screwed the lid back on. “Don’t you worry, little guy! I’ll take good care of you!”

Ladinas smiled indulgently. Just like that, Oblivion was contained. Alice was free.

Alice turned to me, eyes bright with emotion. “Thank you, Mercy. For everything. I can’t tell you what this means to me.”

I nodded, swallowing the sudden lump in my throat. “I’m happy for you, Alice. You deserve this.”

And she did. After centuries of violence and heartache, my recent friend and long-time nemesis had finally found peace. Part of me envied the simple life she and Ladinas would have here.

No more battles to fight, no more blood to spill. Just... existence.

Enjoying each moment as it came.

But that kind of life wasn’t meant for me. Not yet, anyway. There were still vampires, an entire world full of people who needed protecting. There were more wars to wage, more dangers to thwart. I wasn’t done fighting.

Maybe someday, after it was all over, Juliet and I could carve out a slice of forever for ourselves too. But that might not come for centuries.

So be it. I loved my existence the way it was. I didn’t need a lamp world to find peace.

Real serenity isn’t what you feel when everything’s peachy keen. It’s what you experience when the whole world is going to shit, but you’re content.

I met Ladinas’s knowing gaze. “Take care of her,” I said gruffly.

He inclined his head. “Always. This might be the beginning of our forever, but it doesn’t mean it has to be our forever goodbye. You’re always welcome here.”

“We might just take you up on that,” I said gruffly. “But any chance you could make your world something a little less Nebraska and a little more Cabo San Lucas the next time we come visit?”

Ladinas laughed. “That can be arranged. When can I expect you next?”

I shrugged. “You never know. The next time we get a little break from world-ending threats, maybe? That could be tomorrow. It might take a few years. But I can’t leave you two lovebirds alone for too long. Who knows what trouble you’ll get up to.”

Alice laughed, bright and carefree. The sound warmed me. After everything she had suffered, she deserved a little laughter.

With a last goodbye, I turned and put my arm around Juliet. Muggs spun his staff and took us home. Back to the Underground.

My battles weren’t over. But for Alice, the war was won.

The End of Book 7

To Be Continued in Bloody Moon

Want more Hailey and Pauli? Check out The Blood Witch Saga