Page 33 of Elemental Hope (Warlocks #2)

Chapter fourteen

A fter arriving at the designated meeting point, Dominic found a spot to wait with Coryn and Damon.

While Gregory, Nathaniel and Evrain discussed their plans and circled the site again and again, considering every eventuality, he, Coryn and an unusually subdued Damon sat on one of the huge boulders at the edge of the lot, watching them.

Dominic turned to Coryn, smiling. “I’m sorry Evrain gave you both so much grief about the agrimony over dinner yesterday. ”

Coryn chuckled. “Well, he didn’t lose his temper completely, though I think Gregory’s ears were burning for a while. Did Evrain give you a hard time?”

Dominic swallowed as he remembered. “Yes, quite hard, you could say that.”

Coryn stared at him curiously then grinned. “Ah, I see.”

“He was more upset with himself than me. He just couldn’t express it properly. He feels guilty for getting himself caught by Symeon. He thinks that led to all this.”

“It did, in a way,” Coryn said. “But sooner or later Imelda would have taken more drastic steps. At least this way we have a modicum of control.” Coryn tilted his head back, gazing at the cloudless sky. “Are you scared about what’s going to happen later?”

Dominic ran his fingers over the sparkling granite they were sitting on and chewed his lower lip. “I’m scared for Evrain. I just want this all to be over so that we can get back to some kind of a normal life. I’m just a gardener.”

Coryn put a comforting hand on his shoulder and squeezed. “I think you need to face up to the truth that a life with Evrain is always going to be anything but normal.”

Dominic thought about that statement as they sat together in quiet companionship watching their respective partners pace around, deep in conversation.

The time went by far too fast and it wasn’t long before the sun began to sink below the horizon.

There were a few dense stands of trees dotted around but the parking area was situated on a flat plain in the river valley.

There was an expansive view to the south.

The sky turned vermillion and amber, then pink.

Heavy gray shadows fell across the area.

Small pieces of crystal in the rocks caught the light and glittered.

On any other day, Dominic would have been able to appreciate the beauty of it, but today the dark shadows just seemed ominous and the red light spread a hint of hell across the landscape.

He drew in a sharp breath. In the distance he could see the lights of a cavalcade of vehicles approaching their way down the road.

He counted five cars, all proceeding at a measured pace.

They turned into the parking area then drew up in a semicircle on one side opposite where Gregory and Evrain had parked.

Coryn drew Dominic and Damon away and they stood, half concealed behind a small copse of trees. Nathaniel jogged across to wait with them. He put his arm around Damon’s waist, drawing him close.

Gregory and Evrain waited in the center of the clearing, their silhouettes outlined in gold.

Imelda was the first to leave her vehicle.

If Dominic had been expecting flowing robes and pointy hats, he was disappointed.

Imelda was wearing well-cut black trousers and a thick dark red sweater, which seemed to hint at her lust for blood.

The eight women who came to join her were less dramatically dressed—one or two were young and attractive, but the rest were completely unremarkable.

Under normal circumstances, no one would have given them a second glance and there was no way of knowing that together they formed the most powerful Coven in the northwest. Most of them cast covetous glances toward Evrain as they moved to stand in a loose circle.

Gregory took Evrain by the hand then led him to the center of the circle, where he gestured for him to kneel. Evrain dropped to the ground and looked up at his godfather, waiting for the signal to begin.

“Why is he kneeling?” Dominic whispered.

“Because he has to be stable when he channels and he may not be when Gregory cuts his palm. It’s also part of the show for Imelda. Gregory wants Evrain to come across as less of a threat than he actually is. Perception is everything.”

“Imelda, do you have the knife and goblet?” Gregory asked. The evening was clear and still. The sound of his voice carried to where Dominic, with a clear line of sight, waited with the others.

Imelda approached Gregory. She extended a simple dagger of gray steel.

From what Dominic could see, its handle was not ornate—there were no jewels or mysterious designs that caught the light.

The fact that it was clearly a tool, designed to be efficient and useful, made it all the more horrifying to Dominic as he looked on.

The copper goblet she handed over was very similar, made from plain, unadorned metal.

Imelda took a few steps backward but not so far away that she couldn’t see exactly what was going on. Evrain extended his arm, allowing Gregory to grip his wrist loosely. With his free hand Evrain began to make gestures and muttered the simple incantation that allowed him to manipulate fire.

Dominic shuddered as Evrain began to channel. He locked his knees, accepting the deep-seated ache that always came with Evrain’s use of his power. Coryn put an arm around his shoulders but said nothing. Damon gave him an understanding nod.

Evrain was absolutely focused on what he was doing and a small, delicate flame hovered in the air above his outstretched hand.

A perfect tapered shape, it was blue at the base, deep orange at the center, fading to silver at the tip where wisps of dark smoke disappeared into the air.

Perhaps it was a side effect of the channeling but Dominic could see every detail and hear every word with absolute clarity.

As Evrain continued to whisper words of power, Gregory took the knife and made a small incision in his palm, beneath the flame.

Evrain didn’t falter as Gregory turned his hand over and allowed deep red droplets of blood to fall into the goblet.

To Dominic, time slowed as drop after drop splashed into the metal cup.

“This is taking forever,” he muttered. Coryn patted his shoulder.

“It will. A drop of blood is not much. It will take a while to even half fill the goblet.”

Finally Gregory curled Evrain’s fingers into a fist and patted his arm. “You may stop now, Evrain.”

The flame disappeared with a soft pop and Evrain relaxed with an audible sigh of relief. He remained on his knees and watched Gregory hand the goblet to Imelda. Dominic could almost feel the wet warmth of blood squeezing between his fingers and the throbbing pain of the cut on his hand.

“I hope you’re satisfied that we have done everything as you requested, Imelda. Now conduct your tests and we can finish this once and for all.” Gregory sounded cold and stern.

Dominic wanted to run to Evrain but he held his position. Nathaniel took a step away from Damon, his entire body poised and alert.

“You expecting trouble?” Coryn whispered.

“Something feels wrong.” Nathaniel swiveled around, checking every direction, but the light was fading and it was hard to see. “There’s a vague scent on the winds…I can’t quite pin it down. Smells like rot.”

“Imelda’s taking the goblet.” Dominic held his breath. He had to let it out eventually but breathing seemed an irrelevance under the circumstances.

Imelda’s eyes had narrowed at Gregory’s icy tone, but she took the cup and handed it to another woman, who walked away toward one of the vehicles.

She was perhaps halfway between Imelda and the car when a dark figure appeared from nowhere, grabbed the goblet from her grasp then threw her to the ground where she lay unmoving.

Imelda’s cry of outrage was silenced as the mysterious figure walked toward her.

“That’s Symeon!” Damon cried.

“Fuck. He used a concealment spell. That must have been his stench I detected.” Nathaniel edged forward, herding everyone else behind him. Dominic eased sideways. He wanted to keep a line of sight on Evrain.

“Symeon.” Gregory’s flat tone showed no surprise.

“How the hell did you get here, Malus?” Imelda wasn’t as restrained. She spoke with barely suppressed fury.

“It seems you do not have as firm a grip on power within the Octis Coven as you thought, my dear.”

The oil slick of Symeon’s voice made Dominic want to wretch.

“Some of your revered colleagues are contemplating a change of leadership. They have been giving me what you would not, including the handy spell that got me here unnoticed.”

Evrain made to stand.

“No. You stay put. I like you on your knees.”

Dominic was glad he couldn’t make out Evrain’s expression.

Symeon dipped a finger into the goblet then withdrew it, coated in glistening red. He put it to his lips, tasting the blood with relish. He frowned, taking another lick, before his features tightened with anger.

“Agrimony! You poisoned him with agrimony.” He cast the goblet aside, spilling the precious contents onto the ground. Imelda screamed and jumped forward, grasping desperately at the cup as it rolled away from her.

“It’s useless, you stupid bitch,” Symeon snapped. “I don’t know how they did it but his blood is tainted. This is your fault. If you’d left it to me this would never have happened.”

Imelda got to her feet. “If I’d left it to you, Symeon, Evrain and Dominic would both be dead and we would have nothing. As it is, it seems that we have both been outwitted.” She gave Gregory a wry nod. “I don’t suppose you’d care to tell me how you did it?”

“No.” Gregory didn’t smile. “But be assured that Evrain’s blood will never be of any use to you.”