Lunar Bound, page 26
part #4 of Sky Brooks World: Ethan Series
London got straight to the point. “What do you want me involved in this time that will likely get me killed?”
Since she didn’t invite us in, I walked past her into the entryway. “We just need you to show Josh how to do a spell.”
He walked in behind me, hoping I’d continue to take the brunt of her hostility. His eyes widened as she walked right past me to confront him. Scrutinizing him, her hard edge softened.
“What’s wrong?” she asked with genuine concern in her voice, then gestured to the sofa. “Have a seat.”
Josh’s shoulders drooped in relief.
Sky sat in a chair. I joined her, sitting on the arm while Josh sat next to London on the couch. Second-guessing himself, he shifted toward the end, putting some space between them. She looked to him expectantly and he told her everything. We’d already agreed that London’s participation required full knowledge of what we were asking her to do, and why. While the pack had a reputation for ruthlessness, we never put someone into a dangerous position without giving them full awareness of what they were getting into.
He told her about the Aufero, that Sky was a Moura. He told her that I was a dark elf. Everything.
She was intrigued, to say the least. “A Moura and a dark elf sitting in my living room. Hmm, you all really know how to make life interesting. What do you want me to do?”
“Pala was a servant of Ethos,” Josh said. London winced at the name, but he continued. “How did she contact him?”
Pala had borrowed Ethos’s dark magic, and died for it.
“She called him.” London added something in Latin. She was surprised when Josh didn’t recognize it. She acknowledged his confusion with a wry smile. “It’s a very old spell and although it isn’t against our rules…”
Her words trailed off, her meaning plain.
“If you do this spell,” Sky asked, “how do you call him specifically? Without blood or a direct link to him, how do you know he will respond?”
“For lack of a better way of explaining, it is like putting an ad on Craigslist and then you wait.”
“And just wait for some random power to show up?”
She nodded. “That’s how Pala became indentured to him. It was too late for me to stop her when I found out.”
“What if he doesn’t show up?”
“That’s the risk of doing this. You open your home, and you need to be versed on the powers that show. Because if you aren’t, you have no idea what you are getting yourself into.”
“Have Tre’ase answered?”
I looked to Sky, impressed by the question I hadn’t thought to ask.
“I am sure they have. I only know about the spell,” London clarified. “I’ve never done it.”
Sky remained skeptical of our plan, but we were out of options.
“I have some of his blood,” she admitted.
London’s eyes widened. “How old?”
“Five days.”
She frowned. “We can try to source it, but it’s old, and may not be as strong.”
“We’ve done that already.” Sky told the story about finding Samuel, including that Ethos now possessed all three spell books of the Clostra.
For a moment, London forgot to breathe. Horrified, she glanced at the door. Whether she wanted us to leave or was considering running, I wasn’t sure. After a moment, she glanced down at her hand as she pulled on her fingers.
“You need to find him.”
Josh asked, “You’ll help?”
She answered softly, “Yes.”
Sky and I were reduced to observers while they worked together. She explained the spell to him only once, using a shorthand Josh knew intimately. While they prepared, she retrieved a computer and keyboard from another room, set them onto an ottoman. I’d heard of some witches incorporating technology, but never seen it in practice. Their magic combined seamlessly, complementing each other. Watching them, I understood just how special my brother’s connection to London was. I’d risked that for him once before, though unintentionally. I’d never put him in that position again.
The spell seemed more like a flawless performance than a feat of magic. Reaching the end, Josh’s part was played. He stepped aside while London’s fingers danced lightly across the keyboard, which I recognized as the focal point of their spell. Flecks of light darted through the room just before a pastel map appeared on the opposite wall. Josh glanced between her and the display with open-mouthed awe. She winked at him and continued. The map flickered as addresses appeared in different places, and then suddenly disappeared. Simultaneously, her computer went blank.
When her computer wouldn’t restart, London cursed. “He’s not a master of dark magic for nothing.”
Josh stood next to her. “Let me try.”
Reversing roles, Josh took the lead as they tried the spell again. London smiled as the familiar rush of his magic filled the room, whipping around like a budding storm. Where her magic was subtle, colorful, his magic was raw power. As the wind converged into a funnel in the center of the room, a map formed within. A house appeared, followed by a blurred address. As I strained to read it, the map flickered and then disappeared. Josh’s eyes darkened as he brought the map back, fought to maintain it while drawing out more details. Sweat beaded on his forehead from the strain. It was London’s turn to be awed. But before the address became readable, the map collapsed and disappeared for good.
The wind receded as Josh withdrew his magic. He shook his head while catching his breath.
Approaching my brother, I discreetly placed my hands against his, whispered, “Try again.”
He gave me a suspicious look, then tried. As with Sky, he knew I had more magic available to me than I’d admitted to. Allowing my magic to flow with his, mine became dominant. The lights went out and a chill flooded the room. My lungs strained as oxygen became hard to come by. Focusing together, a new map formed with a spiral of light. Straining, we fought for details to emerge, but Ethos resisted. The map held for a few seconds, but not long enough for the location to become clear. It blinked out of existence and I let go of Josh’s hands. The cold quickly receded as oxygen returned. Sky and London sucked in breaths in the dark, as we did.
A half hour later, London and Josh cuddled on the couch. His hand rested on her thigh with a practiced intimacy. He looked more at ease with himself than I’d seen him in a long time, which pleased me. In London’s presence, he’d completely abandoned our jealousy game.
“He doesn’t want to be found again,” she explained.
Sky asked, “Should we try summoning him?”
“There will be an even larger chance that he might not answer. He’s probably suspicious. But”—she looked down into her palms—“if I do it, I think he will answer.”
Sky blinked. “Why?”
“I wasn’t that different from Pala,” she said, choosing her words. “Everyone always wants to be stronger, have more power, have access to magic that is forbidden. I considered borrowing from him, but when I met him, something didn’t seem right. Pala didn’t seem like the same person since she had gotten involved with him, and something was so off about him.”
“You’re sure it was him?” I asked.
“Weird blond hair, odd purplish eyes?”
Sky nodded. “That’s him.”
“Yeah, then we met.” She glanced around her home. “I need more space. A lot more. I know a place but it’s a bit of a drive.”
I drew my phone from my pocket and called Sebastian.
Two hours later, Josh and London stood in a fallow field outside the city. A few feet away, I stood with Sebastian, Sky, and Winter. Winter had come for war, a katana drawn in one hand and a pistol holstered on each hip. She also carried a sheathed knife on her belt, just in case.
Behind us, twenty were-animals waited to carry out their revenge.
Josh and London poured a brownish substance that reeked of sulfur and metal, drawing a circle. Once complete, they clasped hands and read the spell together from her phone. An unnatural calm settled onto the field, stifling any sound—a false promise of peace that suddenly erupted into raw power. The force of Ethos’s arrival sent me, Sky, and Sebastian staggering back a few steps.
Somehow Winter held her ground.
Standing within the circle, Ethos fixed a wicked smile on London. Before her or Josh could react, his hand lashed out at her neck. She gasped for breath, her feet kicking, as he lifted her from the ground. He grinned up at her as she tried to wrench herself free.
“This little witch stole from me.”
The capsa. London had given us the device that weakened Ethos by stealing some of his magic as he tried to retrieve it from his minions. Using the capsa, we’d stolen enough of his magic to make him vulnerable, then we’d killed him.
I should’ve expected he’d want revenge on her. I saw the recognition in Josh’s face as he also realized we’d put her deeper into harm’s way than intended. We’d brought London to perform the spell, not to fight Ethos. Once summoned, she was supposed to transport away.
Her lips moved desperately quick as she invoked a spell. Flame burst on the arm that held her. Despite the rising stench of his own burning flesh, Ethos didn’t seem to feel pain. A quick invocation of his own and a small gust of ill wind smothered the flames.
She clawed uselessly at his arms as she fought for breath. Her eyes bulged, lips darkened.
His grin broadened.
With a sharp gesture, Josh sent a wall of force crashing into Ethos. Instead of breaking his grip on her and knocking him on his ass, it bounced harmlessly off a protective field that materialized at the last moment.
London’s struggle slowed. Her grip on his arms grew noticeably weak.
Josh’s eyes went black as he uttered another incantation. Ethos’s field shattered, became a teal force wielded by Josh. Desperate to protect her, he turned that force into a field that encompassed him and London, repelling Ethos in the process. Thrown backward, he lost his grip on London. Pressing, Josh strode toward him, thrashing him again and again with a magical force.
With Ethos distracted, Sebastian and I changed into our wolves and circled around in opposite directions.
Sparks rose from Josh’s fingers as he made a circular gesture. A magical band formed over Ethos’s torso, tightening around him. Enraged, he dropped his human facade, revealing the charcoal demon-looking beast with fiery orange eyes that he was. His forked tail stabbed out at Josh, who deflected it with magic.
Sebastian and I closed in, snouts low, baring teeth.
Sensing danger, his black maw opened, emitting a screeching sound that ripped at our ears. Shrill and unnatural, it continued. I recoiled, a sharp pain shooting through my skull. The sound was worse for those in human form. Josh grimaced, clutching one of his ears while he struggled to keep up his attack. After a few seconds, he was forced to cover both ears.
The band around Ethos bulged, then shattered.
His tail lashed out once more, plunging into my brother’s abdomen. Josh stumbled forward as the tail yanked free. I watched in horror as blood gushed from the wound. Gaping down at it, his hands clutched uselessly at the hole in his gut as he tried to apply pressure. Blood ran through his fingers as he collapsed to his knees.
Before I could react, Ethos lashed out again, this time at London. She must’ve sensed the attack coming. The fork just nicked her arm as she moved away.
The severity of Josh’s wound sent me into rage. He wouldn’t last long without medical help. Kill Ethos became the only thought in my mind. I charged, veering away just as his tail flicked in my direction. It lashed my side, sent me tumbling into the ground. Taking advantage of the distraction, Sebastian leapt onto Ethos’s back. He bucked violently, trying to escape Sebastian’s claws. His tail flicked like a whip, plunged into Sebastian’s side. He continued fighting until he lost his grip and Ethos sent Sebastian tumbling in the grass.
My horror deepened as he turned on Sky, tail poised to strike. I shouldn’t have let her come. I shouldn’t have brought Josh. The battle was going to hell and Ethos was trying to kill the people I loved. I struggled to my feet, ignoring the sharp pain in my side.
Run, Sky!
As if she heard me, she did. She turned and ran, trying to change in stride. In wolf form, his magic couldn’t harm her. Sensing victory, Ethos chased after her. If he reached her before she could change, he could transport her somewhere else, potentially miles away. We’d never find her before he could transfer Maya, or help her gain control of Sky.
On a good day, her transition could take a few minutes. With Ethos closing the distance fast, she didn’t have a chance.
Frantic to save her, to save Josh, I chased after them. Sebastian ran at my side. The rest of the pack animals followed, howling for blood.
A few feet from her, Ethos’s tail lashed out, cinched around her waist, then jerked her back into his grasp. Compressed against his chest, she grimaced as she reached down to her ankle sheath, drew a knife, and drove it into his tail.
Ethos screamed in agony, releasing her.
She dropped to the grass. Crouched, she started to back away.
Enraged, his tail flicked out at her one more time. Sky flipped backward, narrowly escaping the fork of the tail, but she landed poorly, lost her balance. The tail whipped around her ankle and yanked her to the ground.
As Sebastian and I were about to lunge, he threw back a hand toward us. A wave of dark magic rippled through the grass and crashed into us, knocking all of us to the ground.
The magic forced a few of us to shift, myself included.
As Ethos dragged Sky to him, she tried to reach the knife still embedded in his tail, grunting with the effort. With an easy flick, he cast her into a heap next to London. Pulling his tail close, he plucked the knife free with black, webbed fingers. He stared at it in disgust before casting it aside, then began an incantation.
I struggled to regain my feet, as did Sebastian and the rest of the pack. Ethos’s magic seemed to permeate my muscles, challenging me for control. To my right, Josh lay motionless, bleeding. I’d no idea if he was still alive. Before me, Ethos had Sky in his control. Any moment he’d complete his spell and transfer Maya to London from Sky, killing her in the process.
Drawing my own magic, I clenched a fist and slammed it into the ground at my feet. The spell that bound me crumbled. A circle of dark-blue magic spread out from the impact, liberating the rest of the pack. I jumped back to my feet and charged, shifting in stride. Once more, Sebastian’s wolf was at my side. Blood matted his fur.
London tried to crawl away until Ethos stomped a dense foot on her leg, crushing her leg. Her cry was agonizing.
Gavin’s panther raced past us, crashed into Ethos’s legs, knocking him to the ground. His form flickered as he tried to transport away. A blast of Josh’s magic engulfed Ethos, disrupting his escape. Glancing over my shoulder, I was relieved to see Josh—alive—upright, his arm extended. His ghostly pale face was screwed in concentration as he and Ethos engaged in a battle of magical will. They both strained, resisting each other.
Sebastian and I were almost on top of him. Just a few more feet!
Seeing the danger, Ethos opened his maw and let out a fresh shriek that broke Josh’s concentration.
I leapt, claws extended, teeth bared. By the time I landed on my paws, he’d disappeared. I howled in frustration, but quickly came back to my senses.
Josh, ignoring his wound, somehow stumbled to London’s side. Her body was rigid, breath ragged. The pain of her crushed leg left her panting.
“Broken,” she muttered through her daze. “It’s broken.”
He took her hand, whispered something to calm her.
Gavin, Sebastian, and I shifted back to our human forms. I raced to my brother’s side and knelt next to him. He’d lost a lot of blood. If he didn’t get help soon, he would bleed out. I tried to lift him, but he pushed me away, refusing to leave London’s side. I gestured to Steven, who knelt next to London.
“I’m going to lift you,” he informed her in a calming voice. “You need to support your thigh to minimize the pain. Put your hands here and here,” he demonstrated. “We’re going to get you to Dr. Jeremy. You’re going to be okay.”
Her heart rate slowed with his confidence. She nodded.
“Can you transport?” I asked Josh, trying to mask my anxiety.
He shook his head.
Preparing to lift him, I warned, “This is going to hurt. On three. Ready? One.”
He groaned as I lifted him. A sharp pain shot through my wounded side. I ignored it, balanced my brother’s weight, and carried him as fast as I could walk to one of the SUVs at the edge of the field. Glancing over my shoulder, I saw Steven at Sky’s side. Relief washed through me as I confirmed that she hadn’t been wounded.
Sebastian drove while I remained at Josh’s side, gripping his hand while Gavin put pressure on the wound. When he began to drift off to sleep, I patted his cheeks until he brushed my hand away, annoyed.
“Stay awake.”
“You’re so controlling,” he said, groggy. “London?”
“She’s in the other car. She’s right behind us.”
That put him somewhat at ease. Seeing he was about to fade, I said in a rush to keep his attention, “You were right.”
“Now I know…I’m dreaming.”
“I stole your dates at the club. You should yell at me.” I squeezed his hand. “You’re pissed, Josh. Remember?”
“Oh, yeah. I nearly forgot. You’re a-a selfish bastard.”
“Yeah,” I admitted. “It’s my thing.”
“So.” He licked his lips, showing blood on his teeth. “You and Sky, huh?”
“Yeah.”
“Just tell me one…thing.”
I patted his hand. “Okay.”
“Were you two…together…before the penthouse?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh.” He sighed. “That’s embarrassing.” He tried to laugh but the pain in his gut prevented him. “If you hurt her, I’ll…send you to the place I send all the dead bodies.”
