Harvest: Dark Urban Fantasy (Shifter Chronicles Book 3) Page 14
Her eyes narrow and her shoulders become rigid as her gaze falls on Callum. He has the weight of the world on his shoulders. I shift my gaze to him, too. I know he feels like he’s too far away from his problems to do anything about them. In fact, he might even feel like he’s ignoring them. Callum’s an action kind of guy.
He shifts uncomfortably under Lydia’s gaze. His whole body stiffens and retracts slightly. He doesn’t actually take a step backwards, but I bet he would if he could do it without appearing like he’s retreating. His whole-body kind of tilts back a bit. Lydia doesn’t look offended at all. She just gives a slight nod and lets him be.
Lydia’s eyes return to me. Her face becomes still as a pond. I look and look trying to see something; a squint, a rigid line… anything that will show me what it is she sees in me.
But there’s nothing.
“It is wise you came tonight,” she says. Her voice is deep and resonant and moves like the earth slowly through my muscles. “We were very surprised when you came amongst us. The ancestors decided to let you through. And perhaps it is for this reason, so that we may help you with your people. Because we are under the impression you are in grave danger.”
Well that’s cheery.
I don’t say the words out loud though, but I glance sideways at Callum and I’m surprised by the lack of skepticism on his face. He’s more a hands-on person. I didn’t think he would put a lot of stock in the ancestors, or anything besides himself for that matter. But it was his suggestion to come up here. To see if the Pomos have any magic that can be worked on Lord Van Arend, even at a distance. Something that will help him live. I have a sinking feeling it’s our last-ditch effort to save Lord Van Arend.
“The firewalk is something we do to ask for the ancestors’ protection and help. The firewalk saves lives.”
I breathe in the cool scented redwoods deeply. This is exactly what we need. If the firewalk will save Lord Van Arend’s life, then I am all in.
“As we firewalk, we take on the pain and suffering of others and show it can be overcome. Tonight, we firewalk to show pain and suffering are not necessary. Pain and suffering is a choice.”
My hand flutters to my collar, which is stinging slightly against my skin.
Lydia’s eyes don’t watch me, but she acknowledges my motion. “We all wear bonds of some kind. Some are obvious, but most are not. Everyone has something holding them back, causing them pain, and stopping them from transforming into what they really are. Tonight, we walk to overcome the pain.”
“Is this going to get the collars off?” The question suddenly bubbles with excitement out of my mouth.
Lydia turns to me. “I don’t know.”
I kind of find it hard to believe, because she looks like the kind of person who knows everything. But I can feel a flame inside me, burning a little brighter. A gleam of the hope I would love to have.
Could it be possible?
“Why doubt the magic before it has a chance to happen?” Lydia suggests.
“The magic will release the collars?” I ask outright.
“You always want to stay open to the opportunity of miracles. If you believe the world is as you see it, then the world will be as you see it. If you believe there is more in the world, then there will be more in your world.”
“Good in theory,” Callum mutters.
Lydia stands up, having clearly heard the skepticism in Callum’s voice. “Yes, and because people, when they are on earth, have a tactile view of the world, the ancestors have shown us a way to widen your perspective, just the tiniest bit, and help you see there is more beyond.”
It sounds like we’re going to start seeing a bunch of ghosts and dead things.
“Come,” she says. “Witness.”
Pomos line both sides of the golden glowing embers that make up the path of fire in the clearing. They are singing a delicate hymn but the words resonate heavily inside my head as a shiver goes down my neck and into my heart. This is not like the Bloedhart chant, which was mine and became clear to me. This ancient melody arises from the very earth and trees around us. It floats over and around me as it seeps into my bones.
There is space on the far side of the fire that is obviously meant for Callum and I to stand. Hercules is on one side and Jacqueline the other. I take the spot between Callum and Hercules.
Lydia stands at one end of the carpet of fire as the chanting reaches into the sky and mixes with the sparks swirling in the air around us. Unlike the Bloedhart, where the power crescendos quickly, this is slow and steady, more like being in the ocean and a rocked by the waves.
“Great spirit we take on all tonight,” Lydia says. “We take on all and overcome.”
She raises her hands and walks slowly and carefully and miraculously across the coals. My jaw drops, because even though I’ve seen it once before, it still amazes me somebody can step on burning coals and walk straight across it with no sense of fear and no burning.
“This firewalk is for you,” a voice says above me.
My gaze flies up, but there’s nothing there. There’s no one anywhere near me. I glance at Callum, but he’s watching the firewalk as the next person, an old man who until this point I actually thought was crippled, stands and walks to the end of the carpet.
“All who are called should walk,” Lydia says, her words rise deep and resonant above the chant. “The spirit speaks to each of us individually. Follow your heart and heed what you hear.”
“This walk is for you,” the rich deep voice says again.
“Listen to the ancestors,” Hercules says. It’s very distinctive and very different. But when I glance at him, he’s not speaking. He’s chanting and watching the old man as he walks across the fire.
Jacqueline follows the old man across the flames. It was impressive to see Guinevere walk the first time, but now I’m overwhelmed by the power and beauty and fearlessness of these people who take on the flames themselves to try and help someone they don’t even know.
Hercules steps to the front of the line, his eyes gaze directly into mine as the voice repeats in my head, “This walk is for you.”
He steps onto the burning fire and I wait to hear the sound of sizzling flesh, but it doesn’t come. He just walks peacefully and quietly across the burning embers.
There is no one else in line. Everybody is chanting and yet still. The smell of sage smoke and herbs fills the air.
We should be done. It should be over. But I feel a knot in my stomach and a rising of heat in my body and I realize we’re not done. Everyone waits for the next person and Hercules stares directly at me.
“This walk is for you.” The voice hasn’t changed at all. It says the same thing at the same interval and finally, I hear it.
This walk is for me.
They are walking for Lord Van Arend, but I must walk for myself.
Is this the way to get the collar off? Is this the way to be free of bondage?
I reach for Callum’s hand because if I’m going to do the firewalk he has to come with me. But before my fingers entangle with his, I hear the voice again.
“This walk is for you. Only.”
My hand falls back to the side and then it’s almost as if my body has an intention of its own, which have nothing to do with me or what I want. I turn towards the empty space at the front of the carpet of fire.
Callum grabs my wrist. “No,” he frowns.
“I want this collar off,” I say. My words are clear and direct. The Pomos continue to chant around us.
“There’s never, ever been an instance where one of these collars has been successfully removed, Shae,” Callum protests.
“I know. You told me that,” I chastise. “A million times.”
I want to grab his hand and never let go. I want to hold it and have the two of us just fly away. But I can’t do that.
“I can’t fly,” I say.
He swallows. “I know.”
“I’m going to do this,” I speak with the conviction
of knowing it’s done. I pull my wrist free, otherwise we’re going to stand here all evening staring into each other’s eyes.
One step at a time, my feet take me towards the space. The world is dark, but my head is clear. The chanting surrounds me and I don’t see the faces I pass. I don’t look at Jacqueline or Evie or Hercules. I simply go to the head of the fire carpet.
And I do not stop.
I don’t take a breath and I don’t take a chance there could be anything wrong with this.
“This walk is for you.”
The words welcome me onto the burning embers, they seer into my brain, but my feet feel nothing. The bright orange carpet lights up the blackness of my life. One foot after another, the fire ripples forward, carrying me through as if it has a life of its own. My eyes go to Lydia and Hercules, who wait on the far end. There is no smile, no encouragement, no welcoming. There is no need for it. I know all these things within me.
I am encouraged.
I am welcomed.
The slow and steady rhythm of my life has brought me to this point and will keep me going. Every new experience will unfold before me and I will join it and take it and accept it as it has been written for me alone.
“This walk is for you.”
My feet step onto the dark cool earth.
This is the walk of my life. It will never belong to anyone else. It will never look like anyone else’s life. It is mine and I must take every step of my life along the way as I am meant to take it; in my own space.
I stand before Lydia and Hercules. And the chanting stops. The space is silent in prayer as Lydia wafts sage smoke over my entire body with a sacred eagle feather.
When she is done, the silence of the space is deafening.
But it holds me and lifts me.
“This walk is complete,” Lydia says. I raise my hands upwards in prayer, as I’ve seen the Pomos do.
A gasp rises from Callum and the Pomos. My eyes widen as I shift my gaze down to my palms. From the very center of my hands orange and yellow flames dance up into the darkness.
18
I scream and fling my hands away. My hands stay attached to my body, but flames fly off into the woods, dropping sparks amongst the dry brush.
Steel fingers grip my wrists, pulling my hands back and pointing them to the sky. Flames still erupt from the center of my palms, sparks flying into the air and coming down burning hot against my skin. Jacqueline’s black hair cloaks her face, but I don’t need to see her eyes to feel her rage. Her nails dig deep into my skin, cutting the nerve endings and shooting pains straight to my brain. But I don’t dare to pull my hand away. My mouth gapes at the flames I can’t control. Beads of sweat spark on my forehead, prickly against my skin.
“What are you thinking?” Jacqueline asks. She smashes the palms of my hands together and the flames sputter out immediately.
But they still burn in the forest around us.
“I- I don’t know,” I choke out, barely able to breathe in the stifling heat boiling under my skin.
“Hercules!” Jacqueline calls, but he, Callum and others are already running towards the flames, dragging a spraying hose. My cheeks burn from more than just the heat inside of me.
And of all the people to do this in front of… Jacqueline, the one who never wanted me around in the first place. The one who is probably happy I still have this collar on. My hot fingers press against the metal at my neck.
Jacqueline’s eyes narrow in on Hercules and Callum as they work with the others to push the fire down. Lydia starts to sing a quiet song that drifts around us. It calms both Jacqueline and me. Though I don’t understand the words, whatever it is puts a cool blanket over me that soothes my fiery skin.
“You can’t just go around starting fires in the forest,” Jacqueline’s voice grates against me. “Get your shit under control.”
“I don’t even know what that was.” My voice stringent in the heat. I yank my hands back from her. “Get off my back. What did I ever do to you?”
“You showed up.” She glares. “You should never have come here.”
“I was invited,” I insist. “And you are the only people like me anywhere.”
“We are nothing like you.”
I scowl at her. “Yeah. Maybe you’re right.” I take a step back. “You know, I tried to feel sorry for you, when Hercules told us about your sister, Cory. I really did. I thought I got it, that you just want to protect your family. But I’m wrong. You are right. I’m nothing like you. You’re just a total bitch.”
Jacqueline’s hand cracks like a whip through the air, slapping against my face and snapping my head back. I almost fall back from the impact, but instead I spring at her, my hands wrapping around her throat, it only takes a second for her to push me off. She grabs my shoulder and presses her hand against my stomach. A sonic boom thunders from her hand and I fly across the clearing, landing hard in the dirt. I lie there gasping for breath like a fish on dry land.
“Shae!” Callum is at my side in seconds, his hand on my back, sitting me up.
Hercules stands between Jacqueline and me. He doesn’t raise his hands against her, but his gaze is stern. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“She was trying to kill me.” Jacqueline defends herself.
Hercules tilts his head to the side and I can just see his clear brown eyes narrow in on Jacqueline. “She couldn’t do that even if she tried, and you know it. There was no need for such force.”
Callum helps me to my feet and suddenly Lydia is there, smiling and holding her hand out to me.
“What is going on?” I ask. “What is that?” I nod my head towards Jacqueline. “What is this?” I hold up my hands to her.
She smiles. It’s a close-lipped smile that crinkles her eyes and makes me feel like I’m very, very small, like I’m a newborn baby with no idea what goes on in the world ever.
“That, my child,” she says, “is Ancestral Magic.”
***
There’s a strange car parked out front of Spotswood Ranch as we pull up. I have no idea what it’s for, but there are people still inside. I think they got here just moments before we did. It’s the biggest SUV I’ve ever seen in my entire life.
Zan frowns as we pull up and stop. “Are Maddie and Lacey back with Logan? From bull shopping?”
Cooper shakes his head. “Not them.”
“No,” growls Callum as he grabs the door handle and wrenches it open, hurtling himself out of the car and towards the SUV. “You did not bring him here,” he says as the door to the SUV opens and my heart catches in my throat.
Aiden.
But he doesn’t look good. His eyes are sunken and dark. He sees the jeep and raises a hand towards us, but he’s not focused on us at the moment. He’s focused on the people inside the SUV.
“Brought who?” I ask mostly to myself. But a sinking feeling drags at me, because I know exactly who he has brought to Potter Valley. Though I don’t know how or why.
And even as I realize it so does Roman, who starts running towards the white Escalade.
Callum pulls the door open wide and I see the man who used to be the most regal man I’d ever seen. In the backseat, lies Lord Van Arend .
Aiden paces the back porch unceasingly. After we’d gotten Lord Van Arend settled as best we could in the downstairs parlor, Callum and I had taken Aiden out here to try and get him to relax, even for a minute, but we couldn’t slow him down. He was so full of angst, he couldn’t sit still.
“I didn’t know what else to do,” Aiden says, running his hand through his hair. “They’re not doing anything there. The Order doesn’t care and we don’t have Zaragoza anymore. I even took him to a regular doctor, a human doctor, but, you know, they couldn’t do anything either. The only person I could think of who might be able to do something was Roman, with his lab equipment or something. I don’t know.”
“I shouldn’t have left,” Callum rests against the wooden railing, his arms folded over his chest.
“Why didn’t you send for Roman?” I ask. “We would have come back.”
“You are banished, Shae.” Deep pain floods Aiden’s features, tightening the fine skin around his eyes and mouth. “I can’t just have two shifters who’ve recently been banished come back to Topanga. I would have had to kill you.”
I can tell by the way his head shakes back and forth at these words, that the excruciating dilemma has been rattling around inside his brain for the weeks we’ve been gone.
“So, instead you concocted some story?” Callum asks. “Lord Van Arend is going on a spa retreat? And you left town with Iona in charge.”
Aiden glances up in confusion. “Something like that,” he mutters.
“And you think the Order won’t notice that the leader of Muiderkring West has just disappeared?” Callum asks, disapproval deep in his tone.
“It’s a gamble,” Aiden says. “But El Oso has been gone for two weeks on some expedition with Lady Heather and Shae’s dad to Australia and Indonesia.”
“They’re going to get the chalice!” I exclaim.
Aiden nods, his eyes darting to me. “They haven’t found it yet. I don’t know any of the details, but there are complications.”
“Is my dad still alive?” I ask the question outright, with no desire to play games or beat around the bush.
“We believe so.”
“Believe?” My voice trembles.
“Well, El Oso hasn’t come back yet,” Aiden’s golden-brown eyes bore into mine. “So, I am assuming that they are still on their expedition and your father is still leading it.”
I clench my fists, digging my fingernails into my palms. Cold anger crackles under my skin, the collar aches against my neck. I draw in a long, slow breath.
“Maybe this is the time to get him,” I rasp. “When he’s out on his own.”
Aiden and Callum both look at me like I’m crazy. “You saw what he did when you attacked him last time,” Aiden says.