Duck, Duck, Noose Page 22

  Alaric looked from their downed attackers to the Morrigan. “We need to get out of here.”

  She smiled. “You do. This is where my story ends. Tell Madeline I am sorry she must bear the same curse as I. My only hope is that she bears it more gracefully.”

  He nodded. “She is purely good, despite the darkness she is capable of.”

  The Morrigan’s expression took on a dreamy quality. She turned her gaze out to the sea. “Thank you for giving me peace,” she muttered, then waved a hand in front of Alaric and Sophie.

  He was overcome once again by that odd feeling of still momentum. Everything began to go gray.

  The last thing he saw was the Morrigan collapsing over the bones of her one-time love, then everything went black.

  23

  We all walked in silence back toward the vehicles. Mikael remained by my side the entire way. No one had attempted to speak to me since I’d called Marcos an evil bastard, and I was glad for it. I wasn’t in the mood to talk.

  Madeline, Mara whispered in my head.

  I shook my head. Whatever it is, we can discuss it later, I mentally replied.

  No, she pleaded, something strange has happened. I feel odd.

  I stopped walking.

  Mikael glanced at me in question.

  “Something’s wrong with Mara,” I explained distantly, focusing my energy on her. Pain riveted me. I was suddenly crushed to the ground.

  “What the hell!” someone yelled from behind us, while Mikael shouted “Madeline!”

  I’d managed to brace myself with my forearms as I fell forward into the dirt, but now something heavy pinned my back. Someone groaned on top of me. There were people on top of me, like they had just fallen from the sky.

  “Madeline?” a voice questioned near my ear.

  My heart stopped. I knew that voice. Tears instantly began streaming from my eyes. “Alaric?” I croaked, barely able to coerce my voice into functioning.

  The weight rolled off me, and I turned over and sat up to find Alaric and Sophie seated less than a foot away. My breath left me as Alaric dove for me and wrapped me up in his embrace. “Please tell me we didn’t hurt you with that landing!” he said frantically.

  Though I’d landed on my stomach, my arms had taken most of the impact. That was as far as my thoughts went. I couldn’t seem to stop crying. “I’m fine,” I sobbed, “but how did you get here?” I pulled away from him enough to see his tear stained face. His perfect dark eyes. And the smile I had missed so much.

  The Morrigan sent them, Mara’s voice echoed in my head. Her voice was filled with joy. She released Cúchulainn from his eternal imprisonment. She atoned for our sins before her body perished. I could sense her shock and awe. She’d destroyed herself because of her guilt, which encompassed many things, but most of all it had been centered around what she’d done to Cúchulainn, the man who’d betrayed her love.

  I wrapped my arms tightly around Alaric as he pulled me into his lap. The numbness of shock still had possession of my body. Alaric felt so real against me, but part of me expected him to disappear. I turned my face up to him, and he buried my lips in a kiss. After a moment he moved from my mouth then showered my face with kisses where my tears had fallen. His tears started anew as he pulled back a few inches to show me the sheer joy in his eyes.

  “Would someone mind explaining to me what the hell just happened?” Alejandro asked.

  I turned my gaze up to him and everyone else gathered around us. I couldn’t help my grin as I replied, “Fate decided to stop being such a bitch, for once.”

  My brief glance at those surrounding us brought my gaze to Sophie, who still sat in the dirt, looking bleary eyed and rejected. The visible skin on her chest was bright red and welted, like it had been severely burned.

  With a grin still plastered on my face, I rolled my eyes at her, and held out an arm. “Get over here, you idiot.”

  She glared at me. “You know I’m not the cuddle puddle type.”

  I continued to hold out my arm and she continued to glare, then she finally moved close enough for me to wrap her in a half hug. Alaric removed one arm from my waist and wrapped it around his sister, trapping her against us.

  Sophie only tolerated the hug for a few seconds, but her responding emotions let me know she’d appreciated the inclusion, even if she’d never admit it.

  Letting go of her as she struggled away, Alaric wrapped his arms back around me. “Mind telling me why we’re sitting in the middle of the woods . . . ” he trailed off as his eyes took in everyone standing around us, lingering on Sivi. “ . . . with such an interesting entourage?” he finished.

  I supposed it would seem interesting to him, since he’d never even met Silver, and the last time he’d seen Sivi was back when we’d all lived in Estus’ Salr.

  “I’ll explain everything,” I assured with a smile, “as long as you tell me all about being back in time with the original Morrigan.”

  “Since you know that,” he began, “I’m assuming Mara is here? She thought it was you summoning her, but then she disappeared before we could ask her more.”

  I bit my lip, trying to figure out how to best explain things. She hadn’t spoken into my mind again since Alaric had arrived, and remained out of sight, but I knew she was probably watching.

  “Madeline,” he said cautiously, knowing my nervous look all too well, “what happened?”

  I glanced away from him. “Well, um . . . ”

  “She turned her into a banshee,” Mikael answered for me.

  I turned back in time to see Alaric’s eyes widen. “How? Why?”

  I shrugged. “It was kind of an accident.”

  He sighed. “Where is she now?”

  At his question, Mara appeared before us, though she was still barely visible in the midday light. She stood silently, but those near her backed away.

  I tensed as Alaric’s uneasy energy hit me, then I remembered something Mara had said right before Alaric had appeared. He’d somehow freed Cúchulainn, her one-time love turned enemy.

  I watched Alaric as he stared at her.

  “Do you feel any different?” he asked her hesitantly.

  “Quite,” she replied with her eyes on me before turning her gaze toward Alaric. “You know you shouldn’t go around changing history,” she chided, then softened her tone to add, “but yes, I feel quite different. I feel . . . free.”

  “So it worked then?” he pressed. “I mean, I saw her release his soul, but we weren’t able to hang around and ask questions.”

  Mara’s transparent lips smiled. “It worked. I have the memory of the entire experience now in my mind. She was me, after all.” She turned her hollow gaze back to me. “I was quite impressed, really. They fought Terminus and the Zorja.”

  “Terminus and the Zor-what?” I asked her, confused.

  “Ancient guardians left over by the gods,” she answered simply.

  “Not to interrupt,” Mikael interrupted as he stepped forward, “but we really should get back to the hotel to plan our attack.”

  I’d been so wrapped up in getting Alaric back I only then realized that everyone else probably didn’t share my excitement, and wanted to get on with the mission. I reluctantly rose from Alaric’s lap. He followed me up, standing close, his shoulder touching mine.

  Mikael stepped in front of Alaric. “It’s good to have you back.”

  “You don’t have to lie,” Alaric replied instantly.

  “I’m not,” was Mikael’s simple reply before turning to walk the rest of the way toward the vehicles.

  We all followed. I didn’t dwell on the odd moment. I had Alaric and Sophie back, and Mara was practically singing with joy in my mind. I had the energy of the Fates within me, and even though the Norn’s death caused me sadness, the idea of fulfilling her wishes lifted me back up. Between Mara and the Fates, I had two pieces of the puzzle. Now I only needed the third. The key. Together we could create a whole new world for my daughter to grow up in. One
filled with magic and excitement. Or at least that was my hope. In reality, releasing magic into the world might be a very bad thing, but I had to have faith the Fates wouldn’t steer me wrong.

  Okay, so they had steered me wrong before, but forgive and forget, right? Ri-ight.

  Our vehicles were a little crowded with the extra passengers, but everyone managed to fit, sort of. Luckily we didn’t have far to go. Mikael took the driver’s seat again in the SUV we’d arrived in. Aila climbed into the passenger’s seat. Alaric, Sophie, and I took the middle row, while Faas, Tabitha, Alejandro, and Tallie all crammed into the back row, sharing the three seats uncomfortably. It was lucky Tallie and Faas were small, else they never would have fit. Silver took everyone else in the other vehicle they’d arrived in.

  On the drive back I’d filled Alaric and Sophie in on everything they’d missed, including our failed attempt to infiltrate Estus’ Salr.

  “So Sivi is on our side now?” Alaric asked suspiciously as we neared the hotel.

  I nodded. “More out of spite against Estus, than out of a need to help us. He lied to her about Kira being dead. They spent hundreds of years apart because of him.”

  “Can we trust her?” he pressed, still sounding unsure.

  I shrugged. “She saved us that night, so she’s at least useful, and I trust Kira. If Sivi is plotting something, I believe Kira would try to stop her.”

  “So how did their little reunion go?” Alejandro interrupted from behind us.

  I turned around to look at him. “I haven’t had the chance to ask yet. In fact, I haven’t seen Kira at all. It’s been one thing after another since we got back.”

  Faas rolled his eyes. “Yes, you’ve kept us all very busy,” he quipped.

  I smirked. “Hey, no one made you come along for any of it.”

  “Well I couldn’t very well leave you to your own devices,” he replied sarcastically.

  We pulled into the parking lot of the hotel, distracting me from my forthcoming clever retort. We parked, and with Alaric’s hand firmly linked with mine, we all filtered out of the vehicle and into the parking lot. The clouds had moved in to obscure the sun during our drive, making me feel more at home. As a life-long Pacific Northwesterner, I wasn’t used to much sun.

  Alaric and I fell behind while everyone else walked toward the hotel ahead of us.

  “You all seem quite comfortable with each other,” he said softly, leaning his head near my shoulder. “I’m surprised.”

  I shrugged. “I’ve had to rely on everyone a lot since we got here. You can’t help but make a few friends when death lurks behind every doorway.”

  “Hmph,” he replied.

  I tilted my head and raised an eyebrow at him as we neared the front entrance. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but are you jealous?”

  He smiled softly as we entered through the sliding doors. “I didn’t like missing out on that time with you. I’m grateful to everyone for keeping you safe, but at the same time, I wish I could be the only one with that job.”

  I grinned at him. “Don’t worry, you can keep me the safest.”

  He laughed, then we were interrupted by Sophie. She’d reached the end of the lobby near the restaurant entrance, and was now shouting at the hostess. Aila stood at Sophie’s side trying to calm her down.

  Mikael turned away from the scene as we reached him. “It seems Sophie wants food, and she wants it now.”

  I laughed, then rubbed my small baby bump. “I could stand to eat too.”

  Alaric placed his hand over mine on my tummy. “I was hoping for some alone time,” he admitted, “but what baby wants, baby gets.”

  Mikaels took a breath through his teeth. “You two are disgusting,” he muttered, feigning horror at our cuteness.

  Or who knew? Maybe he wasn’t feigning and we really were that disgusting. Either way, he led us toward Sophie and Aila.

  The hostess sighed, then gave in and agreed to seat them in the overly full restaurant.

  We ended up sitting at two little round cafe tables pushed together in the corner of the room. It was somewhere around 4 pm, but we all ordered coffee. I even went for the real stuff. Screw my leftover human instincts. I was Vaettir, and everyone had assured me a little caffeine wouldn’t harm my baby, so I was just going to go for it. Of course, maybe I was more than Vaettir, something else entirely, and that made me question my ability to even have children. I shook my head and focused on the menu in front of me. I wasn’t about to let my mind go there until we were all safe. I had too much to think about as it was.

  Once we all had our coffee, we ordered food. Pancakes for me, and a burger for Alaric. While we waited for our food, Alaric and Sophie regaled us with the story of their adventure. By the time our food arrived I was suffering from a mixture of surprise, and a bit of jealousy. Forest beasts, the original Morrigan, and ancient guardians? It all sounded exciting . . . and terrifying. It also made me feel a bit ill that Alaric had come so close to not making it back to me.

  We all waited in silence as the waitress doled out our plates from her large tray. Once she was gone, I forced myself to take a bite of my pancakes. Everyone at the table silently dug into their food. The pancakes were fluffy and delicious, and sat like cardboard in my stomach.

  “As for tonight,” Mikael announced, drawing everyone’s attention to him. He had an untouched bowl of french onion soup sitting before him. “Most of us will enter the Salr together to attend Estus’ ball. We have deduced that he wants to convince Madeline to help him in some way, but he’s lost his leverage.” He glanced at Alaric and Sophie. “Still, he will likely try to force her into aiding him. Our job is to not give him the chance.”

  Everyone around the table nodded in agreement, including me. I was just fine with passing up a personal meeting with Estus/the key.

  “Faas, Madeline, and Marcos will remain together,” he continued, “as they can feed each other’s powers. This extra display will be needed, as the banshees cannot enter the Salr. Most of our numbers will enter the Salr along with them, though a small force will remain outside with the phantoms.”

  I narrowed my eyes at him in confusion. “You speak as if we have hundreds at our disposal,” I commented, interrupting his speech. We’d gathered quite a few people to our small group, but it was still just that. Small.

  He chuckled. “You did not truly believe we were all just sitting here twiddling our thumbs while you did all of the work, did you?”

  I kept my eyes narrowed, waiting for him to explain.

  “Many of Aislin’s people have joined our cause,” he stated smugly, “and the smaller clans are coming over from Ireland and Norway. They all understand what is at stake, and are willing to fight.”

  My jaw dropped. “So you’re saying we have an army?”

  “A small army, but yes. They will be little help against the key, but will be invaluable against those still loyal to Estus.”

  Faas nodded along with what Mikael was saying. “Many will still have to die.”

  “More power for Madeline,” Mikael stated, his voice void of emotion.

  Many would die, I thought to myself. It had been the plan all along, but it still didn’t sit well. Many had died already.

  Alaric watched me like he knew just what I was thinking. He probably did.

  “We’ll rest until nightfall,” Mikael continued. “Then we shall depart together.” He looked at each individual around the table. “Prepare yourselves well. Tonight we fight for our lives.”

  “And to restore balance,” I added.

  “And for vengeance for those we’ve lost,” Aila chimed in.

  “And for love,” Sophie added, surprising everyone.

  We all raised our coffee mugs into the air, clinking them together, then drank heartily of the most noble of beverages.

  As we lowered our mugs we laughed, relieving some of the tension after the dark discussion. The conversation was light as we finished our meals, paid, and left the restaurant, well-fueled and
prepared for the night ahead.

  After our meal, we’d all made our way to our rooms to rest. Now that Alaric and Sophie were back, we’d had to switch up the room arrangements just a bit. Tallie and Tabitha bunked up with Faas, Alejandro, and Maya, while Sophie was added to Mikael’s room along with Frode and Aila. She hadn’t been happy with the arrangement, but preferred it to rooming with Maya.

  It had been blatantly obvious that everyone was trying to give Alaric and I a room by ourselves, and I wasn’t about to argue with them. It was actually quite a sweet gesture, and horribly out of character for most of the Vaettir.

  Still, Alaric and I did end up with a room to ourselves, and suddenly everything felt well and right in the world, even though we would soon have an epic standoff with our long time enemy.

  Now we stood in that dark room, all by ourselves. Alejandro had given Alaric some fresh clothing, since they were roughly the same size, but he’d wait to change until after a shower and some rest.

  Speaking of a shower . . .

  We both glanced at the open bathroom door, providing the only light in the room, other than what crept in through the shut curtains. We only had a few hours to rest before it was time to go, but it seemed neither of us was overly concerned with going to sleep.

  Alaric glanced at the bathroom again. “Shall we?”

  “You should probably get some rest,” I sighed.

  He hadn’t slept the entire time he was in the past. I knew he was much better at going without sleep than most, but he still had to sleep sometime.

  He gently laid his hands upon my shoulders. “I haven’t seen you in days. We’re about to go up against Estus and the key. I’m not going to waste these few hours with you on sleep.”

  “But—” I began to argue, only to be cut off by his lips on mine.

  All arguments ceased. He took my hand and led me toward the small bathroom. I’d just taken a shower in there earlier that morning, but I didn’t mind another one. Especially since I had company this time.